Going along the lines of Gary Becker and Richard Posner, I would like to point out another blog opinion that both of these economists discussed. The issue is doping athletes in professional athletes. Why do athletes turn to performance enhancing drugs in their professions? One reason might the gains they will make if they are number one. In terms of competitiveness, professional sports are not lacking in any way so each team or athlete are equal roughly in terms of talent level (except for the super stars). One of the defining factors would be the monetary gains of doping. Consider the Yankees success in baseball, the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers in basketball, or Lance Armstrong in Biking. What separates them from the rest of the pack? Mainly their monetary gains from winning. Consider the issue of Lance Armstrong winning seven Tour De France back to back to (you get the picture) and making sponsor deals and having millions of Americans wearing your yellow bracelets. Not only did Lance Armstrong make multiples times what the guy in second place made but also made him a household name. The same goes for A-Rod and Barry Bonds. So it pays to be first in terms of money and fame. No one remembers second place or likes to pay second place like the first place.
So what is legislation trying to accomplish. It is trying to reduce the side effects of the performance enhancing drugs on the quality of life of the athlete competing. PEDs might help that sprinter win the race by a slim margins but if the whole pack is taking the drugs the marginal benefit to taking the drugs will be reduced until the point it will have to be a necessary step in competition.
My question is why doping athletes such a huge problem in sports? Should it be such a big deal and how would legislation help stop this type of activity?
You bring up a great point in that if doping was legal, the marginal benefit to taking the drugs will be reduced to where it would be necessary in order to compete. But if that's the case, why dope in the first place? If everyone doped and gained the same exact benefits from doping, it would be the same as them not doping at all and competing with their natural ability. I think the reason that it is illegal is because of those side effects of athletes. Also, every person doesn't respond to drugs in the same way. a PED might help me out more than it helps you and in turn would make you a better performer based solely on a drug. Yes, monetary gains are a driving factor in why people dope, but I think that it really is unfair to everyone involved with the doping process.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting point and I think the reason doping is still relevant in sports today is due to the improved performance athletes can attain by taking these drugs. For me the moral side of things comes into play here because illegally taking drugs is wrong no matter what way you slice it. In taking part of doping you gain an advantage that others don't have because people are following the rules and guidelines of their sports. I think the banning of these drugs is not only to protect the players from the side effects, but also to protect the integrity of the game. If everyone doped the playing field would be level but the moral code and integrity of the game is completely lost. This is the key underlying issue here and as a result I don't believe PED's will ever be allowed in professional sports.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Will and Michael that it is a fact that Performance Enhancing Drugs allow for athletes, who use them, to have a comparative advantage over all of the others. There is no doubt that people who use the PED's have a huge advantage over the other field of athletes.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Will when he states that PED's will never be allowed in professional sports. I believe that the use of PED's is completely unethical. it is unethical because it is viewed as 'cheating' or breaking the laws of sports. This unethical point of view comes from the basis that these athletes that are participating in using the drug are doing it out of pure self-interest. This behavior and low sense of values does not benefit sports as a whole. That being said, I strongly believe that performance enhancing drugs should never be allowed to be used in professional sports. This would allow a more balanced sports field and equal competitiveness which will attract more spectators; thus creating a larger demand for the sports and create large profits.