As per the findings the initial argument, Savulescu, Creaney & Vondy argues that use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids creates an unfair advantage in sports (2013). The argument is based on the assumption that people who use drugs like steroids are able to perform better than their counterparts who are not using performance-enhancing drugs. On the contrary, Foddy & Savulescu argues that performance-enhancing drugs don’t have a significant impact in terms of the level playing field for all athletes (2007).
There is no significant difference between athletes enhancing their blood count through altitude training and those who are using drugs like steroids or using hypoxic air machine. At the same time, there are athletes who naturally have high packed cell volumes (PCVs) that enable them to perform better than others (Foddy & Savulescu, 2007). Other athletes also have natural body makeup that gives them an unfair advantage in the field. For instance, Ian Thorpe has been found to have enormous feet that give him a better advantage than any other swimmer no matter the effort they put in exercising. Still, there are some basketball players who are seven feet tall and can naturally perform better than their counterparts in the field. Hence, some athletes naturally have an unfair advantage in the field. Unfortunately, Savulescu, Creaney & Vondy and others who oppose the use of performance-enhancing drugs do not talk about the genetic inequality.
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In conclusion, therefore, to enhance the level playing field for athletes who are not naturally advantaged, they should be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs like steroids. Using performance-enhancing drugs will help in removing genetic inequality that creates the unfair playing field. Performance enhancing drugs promote equality in athletics. Hence, as much as performance-enhancing drugs are accused of creating an unfair advantage in sports, to a larger extent, it promotes fairness.
Reference
Foddy, B., & Savulescu, J. (2007). Ethics of performance enhancement in sport: drugs and gene doping. Principles of Health Care Ethics, Second Edition , 511-519.
Savulescu, J., Creaney, L., & Vondy, A. (2013). Should athletes be allowed to use performance enhancing drugs?. BMJ , 347 , f6150.
