Athletic Enhancement
by Mike Bartholow
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Athletes have been trained to make physical, mental, and emotional sacrifices in the name of excellence. Individuals are willing to risk their lives to attain their goals and the American society not only condones, but also encourages and rewards this behavior. Whether it is the fame, money or personal glory, many athletes are willing to do whatever it takes to be the best. It is not surprising then that there is a constant struggle to eliminate the abuse of performance enhancing drugs within organized sports. Despite every effort, drugs such as steroids are a cause for concern in many collegiate and professional athletic organizations and with the possibility of genetic enhancement on the horizon, the issues concerning fair and safe competition are becoming increasingly complex. |
The objective of this web page is to outline the issues of concern - specifically the use of steroids and the possibilities of genetic manipulation - and then shed light on the surrounding professional, legal, and ethical dilemmas. A general structure is as follows:
Overview of Steroids/Genetic Manipulation - The facts about steroid use and future genetic possibilities.
The Issues - Professional, Legal, and Ethical issues surrounding athletic enhancement
Stakeholders - those individuals/groups that have invested interests in the issues.
Possible Actions - An analysis of the consequences, individual rights and fairness, and the common good of two possible actions that could be taken to address the issues.
Final Decision - The best course of action to take and why.
Sources - Where to go for further information.