There should not be any compromise about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in competitive sport. As such, all sporting organizations in the Kenya should be very strict when it comes to dealing with athletes who dare use these substances to gain an unfair advantage over others. Every year, some famed athletes fall victims of doping and suffer the consequences of either being stripped off their titles or facing severe bans. This measure has however not deterred others from engaging in the same malpractice. In addition to risking a ban, anabolic steroids are considered by medical practitioners as a serious threat to the health of sportsmen and women.
It is only under medical prescription that a person can use steroids. Despite this, the number of athletes who test positive after undergoing doping tests has tremendously increased in the past few decades. The only way to deter athletes from doping is by upgrading the anti-doping rules in the country so as to severely punish athletes who are found to use these substances.
By banning the use of anabolic steroids by athletes, the Kenyan sports administrators will not only save the reputation of the country in competitive sports, but will also save the lives of many athletes. Since the use of the performance-enhancing drugs is not common among all sportsmen, the practice grants an unfair advantage to those who use them. Competitive sporting is therefore rendered useless as those who manage to gain access to the illicit substances are destined to win as a result of the cheating. This practice might demoralize the athletes who engage in fair-play as their efforts are not rewarded due to the presence of dopers.
Doping poses a risk to the well-being of the athletes. The side effects of anabolic steroids are catastrophic and can lead to health problems and even instant death to the users. Since some of the athletes who end up using performance enhancing drugs do so without the knowledge of the consequences, it is upon the government to ensure that they are protected and do not end up using them. Complete screening of the athletes’ managers should be conducted since the vice is common among some individual managers.
Many people who become victims of doping give the excuse that the use of performance-enhancing drugs should be legalized so as to ensure that everyone gets access to them. To them, this would eliminate the argument on the unfair advantage. However, considering that the use of the drugs has been confirmed by health practitioners to be a health disaster, it is not possible to compel everyone involved in sports to use them so as to set a level playing ground for the athletes. As a result, banning the substances is the only way that sports administrators can ensure that sportsmen compete on an even ground.
Legalizing the use of steroids by sportsmen can only reduce sporting activities into artificial events. An individual's ability would be recognized in sports any longer since athletes will be relying upon artificial powers to perform in sporting activities. While it may be easy to break existing records and set incredible ones, the ability of athletes would no longer be determined by such scenarios.
Despite the many efforts exerted by sports administrators to regulate the use performance enhancing drugs, more and more athletes are still engaging in the illegal practice. Doping does not only render sporting activities less competitive but it also poses unimaginable risks to the well-being of athletes. While some Kenyan sportsmen found guilty of doping did so in full knowledge of the implications, others did so naively. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the government to ensure that stricter rules are put in place to entirely eliminate the vice in competitive sports and restore the country’s reputation.
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