With constant scientific improvements and a rise in doping cases in sports during the last years, we have to ask the question if it is still justified to prohibit doping or if drugs should be legalised to create a more even playing field and be seen as a part of our normal evolution. The ethics of human enhancement is a part of moral philosophy, which looks at the reasons and arguments for and against the current policies and bans in place which criminalise performance enhancing drug use in sports. (Juengst, Eric and Moseley, & Daniel 2016) It also evaluates and raises awareness to the human costs which come with those enhancements or their prohibition. (Allhoff, Lin, Moor J., & Weckert, 2009)
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s …show more content…
(Orchard et al., 2006) Almost every prescription drug comes with a list of potential side effects to a person’s health and some can even lead to an athlete’s death, if taken or used incorrectly or in combination with other substances. (Hemphill, 2009) Cardiovascular disease, Cancer and infertility are some of the co morbidities resulting from the more commonly used physical performance enhancing drugs of the group of anabolic steroids. (Hemphill, 2009) The effect of Anti-doping laws therefore minimises and discourages the use of those drugs and their negative effects and helps to protect the individual athlete from unnecessary harm. (Hemphill, 2009)
Pro - enhancement advocates have strong arguments against those reasons supporting laws to prohibit enhancing drug use in sports, mainly pointing out their inconsistency. (Orchard et al.,