Even though this happened a week or so ago, I feel this is an important topic. Marion Jones pleaded guilty to illegally using steroids in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In addition, she has said that she will retire from track and field. In the past decade, Jones has won several championships, gold metals, and other metals at Olympic Games. In 2004, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency began investigating her and her possible steroid use, but Jones kept denying it.
I guess she felt it was about time to face the truth, and do so before she was found guilty and get a long prison sentence. It’s really easy to say sorry once you’re caught and found out. In the past years, she vehemently denied using any steroids, but I guess the truth caught up with her fast pace. When I first heard this story, I felt bad that she had to give her metals back. But then again, she didn’t earn them honestly. She cheated. As someone who looked up to her, I feel cheated. During the 2000 Olympics, I was really proud that an American runner won first prize at the Olympic Games, but now, it’s all a joke.
This relates to currents events now, including the Barry Bones and Landis (the 2006 American Tour d France winner) steroid allegations. From fighting dogs to steroid use, athletes seem to think they can get away with anything, including cheating and illegal activities. I am personally saddened by this deterioration of morals displayed by athletes that so many people look up to in our society because it shows the decreasing integrity in our society today.
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7 comments:
I agree w/ Ziva.
It also gets on my nerves when people continue to deny things, then they finally come out w/ the truth months/years later. These athletes seem to think it's okay to wait until the issue has blown over, then come out w/ the truth.
It's also pretty scary that these people are considered role models for kids; I have a seven year old brother who loves to play sports, and I hate to think that his potential role models could be using steriods.
like angela i agree with Ziva. At first i felt really bad for her but then when i found out that she had continuously lied it seemed to make me feel disappointed at her. what i dont understand is why they would use steroids in the first place? didn't they think that there was a possibility of getting caught? and after people became suspicious of them, why do they still continue to deny steriod use? The longer they wait to tell the truth, the worse the truth sounds so why wait??
Athletes are seen as the most dedicated and committed people in society. Sometimes, no matter how hard one works, they do not meet society's expectations, and they think that society would then reject them. They feel like they are obligated to fulfill these expectations in order to show that they are dedicated and committed. By not reaching these expectations, they experience extreme pressure and stress, so they cheat and take drugs. Although this is inexcusable, I thought it would be nice to understand why a respectable athlete would result to cheating.
As a sports fan I can see why these athletes would be willing to use steroids. In some ways in profesional sports its the management fault for steroids. Such as for baseball, everyone knew that people were taking steroids such as Mark McGwire in his record breaking homerun year. A news reporter showed the whole world that his locker was filled with steroids that were banned in the NFL and the olympics but not in baseball. The response that the Cardinals management gave was that this reporter would not be allowed in the club house because he invaded McGwires privacy. I dont condone the use of steroids i think it is cheating but the athletes arent the only one at fault, you should also look at the people in charge who looked the other way for all those years and let it happen.
What's so wrong with taking steroids?
Everyone always says that it goes against the integrity of the game and whatever, but I think that if everyone uses steroids, then there is no problem with using steroids.
It is unfair though that steroids are banned but some people use them anyway while others don't.
I think the real reason steroids should be illegal is because they are harmful to the athletes. If everyone had to take steroids to succeed in sports, the harmful effects of steroids would greatly shorten and worsen the lives of the athletes. But the reason steroids should be banned is because of their physical harmfulness, not simply because taking them gives an advantage. You might as well say athletes are not allowed to use modern workouts and exercises.
I think cheevers brings up a good point about steroids. Steroids are meant to give some one an advantage, but wouldnt an actor or actress getting plastic surgery an advantage because they would look more appealing. Just for you guys to think about.
I personally feel Marion Jones is sort of honorable in her return of her gold medals. She actually faced the public ridicule head on before proven guilty and admitted her faults unlike Floyd Landis, who still refuses to admit to doping even though he has been proven guilty multiple amount of times. She should be applauded for showing real courage unlike many other athletes who deny and deny even if it is blatant they are guilty of cheating.
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