Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Opinions

Are PEDs any more unfair than having access to more funding or better equipment? Photo: JP1958 / Flickr

The Olympic Games remind us of the qualities our society values: dedication, perseverance, exceptionalism - and the desire to win. They represent the epitome of athletic prowess, fair competition, and global unity through our athletes, rather than political tension through our leaders. As I'm sure you will agree, the excitement is even greater when the Games are close to home.

As we watch the Games, we see these inspirational people and the utopian ideals they represent, but we are also exposed to the controversy that comes with the Olympics. The Games have been used to express political messages by Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, Iran, to name a few. Perhaps the most prominent storm cloud hanging over the Olympics have been the occurrences of athletes being sent home, or worse, stripped of their medals because of steroid use or blood doping.

To me, the difference between these two things is that only one is contrary to the founding principles of the Games. Using the athletic arena as an extension of the political arena goes against the ancient concept of ekecheiria (the Olympic truce), but in contrast I see the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) as very much in line with the values that the modern Olympics represent.

What are values that you admire in an athlete? What is athleticism to you? Is it hard work, a drive for success, and the willingness to give it all in the pursuit of a championship? Is it sacrifice, the ability of a person to put their sport above their personal interests? To me, that is what defines athleticism - not sheer athletic ability but the desire to take that capability as far as it can go, to be the best that you can be. Is this not what an athlete is doing when they take PEDs?

The main argument against PEDs is that they give athletes an "unfair advantage" over their competitors. People must realize that an athlete's world is full of unfair advantages. Internally, some athletes, especially on the national scale, have far greater means than others and far fewer external responsibilities. These athletes are able to train for longer hours, to use more sophisticated equipment, and to have access to much better trainers than their less fortunate counterparts.

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