Sandel's Use Of Performance Enhancing Drugs In Sports

In Chapter 2, Sandel argues that talent is a gift that can be admired. Sandel believes that the use of genetically modified drugs or the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports, erodes the part of athletics that celebrate the natural talent and gifts of the athletes. He also says that performance enhancements, genetically modified or otherwise diminishes the essence of the game. Do they really have to diminish the admiration for natural talent? Does it really taint the telos of sports? I do not believe it does or has to.

Performance enhancing drugs, genetically modified or not, make the game more interesting. Unlike television shows or movies, sports competitions become more entertaining when you see people perform at the extreme edge

of what humans are capable of. We, the sports fans, don’t want to see normal things, hear normal stories, or witness normal events. We want to watch extraordinary athletes do extraordinary physical feats because that is what makes us entertained. The use of these enhancements do what they, by definition, are supposed to do. They enhance the game. The athletes that use them are still extraordinary. They still have to have talent. They have a natural gift and have put forth the effort necessary to hone that gift into something amazing and admirable. In the 1998 baseball season, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa raced towards the 61 home run record. According to many it was one of the greatest seasons in baseball history. Some even say that it helped save America’s favorite past time. Even though we know now that both those athletes used PEDs to reach that record, it doesn’t take away from the fact that they had an amazing gift that was enhanced by those drugs. America can still admire that season and the incredible feat both athletes showcased.

The use of genetically modified drugs is not unfair or unethical, it actually promotes equality.

By allowing the use of these forms of enhancement to sports it levels the playing field. In terms of sports, the perception that everyone has the same chance at winning is totally ridiculous. However, in the example of baseball, if the number one pitcher is using enhancements and so is the best batter then the odds are more even then if only one of the stars were using. In the terms of genetics, some people are born with certain genes that create an advantage over others without that gene. Consider the Finish Olympic champion skier Eero Mantyranta, he was born with a gene mutation that allowed his body to produce more red blood cells than normal. The ability to perform well in competition is connected with the ability of the body to deliver oxygen to muscles. As we know, oxygen is carried by red bloods cells. Therefore, the more red blood cells the body has, the more oxygen is delivered to muscles. This in turn, improves an athlete’s performance. Now if other skiers were allowed to improve their red blood cell count by doping that can increase their performance and even out the competition. This does not mean that Mantyranta would not still win, but it helps even the playing

field.

Using performance-enhancing drugs doesn’t make you win. They can help you better your performance and improve your body, but using them doesn’t guarantee winning. All sports rely on skills as well as physical ability. Even if you take higher dosages, or genetically alter your body, if you don’t have the right skill or don’t train, you’re not going to be able to compete at a high level. The talent and the effort of the athlete still has to be there. Using these enhancements does not work like magic. This is why the admiration and essence of the game does not have to be diminished by allowing performance enhancing drugs. Contrary to what Sandel says about this issue. The scientific enhancements that are available today are the new running shoe in evolution. It does not take away from the natural gift that all great athlete poses and we can all still celebrate those talents.