Use of Steroids among Baseball Players - Literature review Example

Topic: Use of Steroids among Baseball Players Lecturer: Presentation: Introduction Baseball is a sport in which players use cognitive and physical capabilities to score goals through running and tapping the four bases within the playing field. Each team usually engages 9 members, which means that there are usually 18 players in a standard baseball game. Scoring requires making intelligent moves since the opponent keeps a tough defense and keeps on attacking the other team. The winner is usually determined by the number of innings, with nine innings being regarded as the professional score (Keri 2006 p 18). For players to be competent in the game, they need to be physically powerful and also need to endure the exhaustion involved in the game. Players are usually tempted to use steroids to improve vitality and endurance. It is true that they have a short term positive effect, but they also adversely affect the player in the long term. However, the substances are illegal and may lead to disqualification of players and nullification of awards and prizes. This essay is a critique of the use of steroids in base ball. It highlights some of the factors that lead to their use and the positive and negative effects of using steroids in baseball. Use of Steroids in Baseball There is an increasing trend in the use of steroids among baseball players in recent years (Keri 2006 p 71). This trend can be attributed to advancement in technology, which has made it possible for many firms to engage in the production of steroids. More over, advancement in technology has lowered the cost of production, which translates to a low retail price, making them affordable to many players. Due to the commoditization of sports whereby winners earn huge amounts of money, baseball players tend to focus on maintenance of vitality to outdo the opponents. With many teams focusing on winning the game, the use of steroids among baseball players increased at a high rate in the last decade. Players are also motivated to use steroids to be attractive to fans through increased performance (Carroll et al. 2007 p 57). Trainers have also been pointed out as the initiator of the use of steroids among baseball players. Sports authorities have banned the use of steroids to enhance performance in baseball. However, players continue to use them illegally, but the media continues to expose such users, leading to their disqualification in sports. Nevertheless, the awareness that the media has created among fans and sponsors has not caused any harm to baseball since the game continues to be played with a few players being identified as steroid users, which is often followed by disqualification. In many cases, the media has been accused by baseball teams of stereotyping an entire club of steroid use just because of an individual, although teams have been capable of coping with such allegations and accomplishing high levels of performance. The BALCO issue is among the major cases whereby the performance of players has been associated with the use of steroids (Keri 2006 p 71). There are several advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of steroids in baseball. The advantages include the vitality in sports and improved physique. The user also develops a feeling of happiness and confidence in approaching issues related to sports. The steroids also make it possible for people to endure increased level of physical activity, which is essential to win the game (Carroll et al. 2007 p 63). On the other hand, steroids have been proofed to have side effects on the users, which include despair, withdrawal symptoms, anxiety aggressiveness, impatience and such psychological disorders. They can also damage the liver and other body organs, especially through facilitating the development of cancer. In other words, the benefits of using steroids are limited, and the individual suffers the adversity of side effects. Continued use of the steroids is due to the fact that the side effects usually do not appear in the initial stages as players begin using them. They experience the beneficial effects leading to more consumption which eventually turns out to be a chronic problem (Pluto 2006 p 21). The players who engage in the use of steroids in baseball initially acquire recognition by fans. However, it later turns out to be a source of shame when it is established that the player was performing under the influence of steroids. Peterson (2005 p 68) argues that there is need to respect individual rights and freedoms. The use of steroids to supplement a person’s natural ability can be viewed from an individual freedom’s point of view. This is because a person needs to be allowed to own oneself and do whatever he/she wishes with the whole body. Preventing the use of steroids in baseball may therefore be seen as infringement of individual freedom. On the other hand, Peterson illustrates that individual rights and freedom need to be allowed so long as they do not interfere with other people’s rights (71). What one person does to add to his/her competitive advantage may lead to ethical wrongdoing when trying to justify the positive results. This may affect other people’s rights. Whenever the side effects of using steroids occur for example violent behavior, other players’ rights may be infringed because they have a right to live in a peaceful environment. Steroid use therefore needs to be prohibited. More over, it gives the user a competitive advantage over the other players, making it an unfair competition. Penalties for the use of steroids in baseball affect the players especially those who engage in professional sports. After the discovery that a baseball player has used steroids, it is usually difficult to convince fans that the player is no longer using them. It ruins the player’s sporting career (Walker 2006 p 16). Conclusion Baseball is a sport that needs energetic players for effective performance. The need to accomplish this makes players to be tempted to use steroids, which enhance muscle development and vitality. Steroid users assert that it is useful in enhancing their performance and recuperating from injuries. However, opponents of the use of steroids argue that it is injurious to the body, especially due to its side effects. Users may turn out to be violent against other people, thereby infringing their rights. Steroids give the users an advantage over other players, which leads to unfair competition. It is therefore important that their use in baseball be banned for a fair game to be accomplished. References Carroll, W., Carroll W. L. & Schwarz A. The Juice: The Real Story of Baseballs Drug Problems. Ivan R. Dee, Pub, 2007. Keri, J. Baseball between the Numbers, New York: Basic Books, 2006. Peterson G. B. The Tanner Lectures on Human Values, Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 2005 Pluto, T. Baseball created a culture of neglect in steroid controversy. Magazine Article from The Akron Beacon Journal, March 20, 2006. Walker D. War on youth steroid uses a team effort; Baseball joins forces with anti-drug groups. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 25, 2006 Annotated Bibliography Carroll, W., Carroll W. L. & Schwarz A. The Juice: The Real Story of Baseballs Drug Problems. Ivan R. Dee, Pub, 2007. The book focuses on the passion that is associated with baseball from fans. They know the rules and techniques of baseball and can analyze and distinguish between competent players in the game. Changing any of the rules may raise concern amongst fans. The book presents a positive outlook of fans in regard to the use of steroids in baseball. However, the book also presents some negative consequences associated with the use of steroids. Keri, J. Baseball between the Numbers, New York: Basic Books, 2006. The book presents a history of baseball, highlighting the major developments over time. The main points of focus in this essay are the developments between 2000 and 2005, which is the period when the highest use of steroids was recorded. Peterson G. B. The Tanner Lectures on Human Values, Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 2005 The book emphasizes on ethical values that help in building harmonious relations among humans. The main interest for the book in the essay is observance of individual rights and freedoms, whereby the a person is allowed to own oneself and do whatever he/she feels fit for the body but ensure that individual actions do not infringe the rights of others. This indicates that even though baseball players have the right and freedom to use their own bodies, the negative consequences such as violence infringe the rights of other people and therefore steroids need to be prohibited in baseball. Pluto, T. Baseball created a culture of neglect in steroid controversy. The Akron Beacon Journal, Vol 20.4, (2006): 21. The news paper article focuses on baseball as the cause of the extreme use of steroids. It is viewed as the major source of motivation towards the use of steroids in games. However, the article points out that the negligence in regard to solving controversies regarding use of steroids in baseball may have adverse effects in the future of Major League Baseball. Walker D. War on youth steroid uses a team effort; Baseball joins forces with anti-drug groups. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Vol 16.2, (2006): 16 The article focuses on the efforts in place to form a significant partnership in America aimed at sensitizing players regarding the use of steroids, and strategies for eliminating its use in baseball. Many groups have been involved in these efforts. Baseball is viewed as the main partner that has financed sensitization of the public and players through mass media. Read More