The use of enhancing drugs is not fair to the other contestants. The drug gives an athlete an unfair advantage. It is the act of misusing medicinal products to gain an advantage in performance and to prevent fatigue (Haley 2). It is an artificial way of performing while prohibiting one's personal best in an activity. Then it also creates pressure among other athletes to use these drugs in order to compete (Gale …show more content…
The first drugs that were used to enhance performance were heroin and morphine (Haley 2). Arthur Lindon, a Welsh racing cyclist, was suspected of doping and died soon after a race in 1980 (2). Later in the 20th century, athletes began using strychnine, ephedrine, stimulants, and steroids (2). The danger of using these and other drugs is dependence. Athletes become physically addicted which can lead to lifelong problems. Stimulants can cause high blood pressure, anxiety, and irregular heart rhythm (Gale 2). Additionally, steroids can cause acne, baldness, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, liver damage, and prostate cancer (3). Aggression can also result from long-term use of steroids (3). These and other drugs may temporarily enhance an athlete's ability, but cause long-term health dangers for those