Abstract The paper addresses the widespread use of steroids by high-profile athletes for boosting their performance and discusses whether it is morally acceptable to use performance enhancing drugs in sports. The paper looks at patterns of use of steroids by athletes; are they being used across the board or are certain groups by sex, class or ethnicity more prone to its use? The paper also examines whether it is ethical to use animals for sports and entertainment and discusses the history of cockfighting in the United States.
Outline:
Sports Ethics
Sports History and Performance Enhancing Substance
Pattern of Use
Why is Steroid-use in Sports Considered Unethical?
Is it Ethical to Use Animals in Sports?
The Barbaro Case
Cockfighting
Conclusion
From the Paper "Sport is an ancient human activity as cultural relics provide evidence that some form of health-building activities existed in China as long ago as 4000 BC (Qinfa, 2007). A number of sports are also known to have been played in ancient Egypt, and the Greeks of course organized the ancient Olympic Games as far back as 776 AD. With the advent of industrialization in the 19th century and the increased availability of leisure time, sports have become phenomenally popular in most parts of the world. The development of mass media and communication technology such as the radio, television and the Internet in the recent past have further added to the popularity of sports as spectators can now follow the exploits of athletes and star performers from afar."
