Performance enhancing drugs have always been thought of in terms of physical ability. Players take drugs such as steroids and human growth hormone in order to gain more muscle, become faster, and to heal quicker. In all these cases, it is clear to see that a player was trying to get ahead physically. But with the recent Adderall related suspensions in the NFL, can a drug be a PED if it doesn't alter a person's physical body? Most students in college know what Adderall is. Adderall is a drug prescribed to people with ADD, and it basically helps improve a person's focus while providing some energy, without any major implications on the body. It will not make you faster, stronger, or heal quicker, but it will help you focus mentally. This brings up the question of whether Adderall is a PED or not. The stories on the players suspended are generally the same, with them taking Adderall in order to help them learn the playbook and to help keep them up at night while studying. These players are just trying to help themselves understand complicated playbooks, while in the offseason. Can a drug that does nothing to you physically be labeled as a PED? People for Adderall as a PED claim that because it helps a person's focus and energy unnatural, it should be banned. But what about energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster? They also provide energy unnaturally, yet are not banned. And what about painkillers, unnaturally helping players mask pain in order to improve their performance. In my opinion, Adderall should not be classified as a PED because it does nothing for a person's body. Sure, it helps players become more focused, but why should this not be allowed, especially in the offseason? Players in the NFL have huge playbooks that have hundreds of plays in them, and if they can take a drug to help them learn and understand the playbook while not hurting themselves or others physically, why shouldn't they be able to?
Andrew Tran
009347674
KIN 332i
TTH 12:30
3 comments:
I totally agree with you that some substances are banned while others that actually promote the same effect are not does not make sense. If they ban adderall then they should do so to other energy drinks. But did you know that caffeine is actually banned to an extent in pro leagues? There is a certain limit of caffeine in your body that you cannot pass. Also, if the drug has any effect whether it may be physical or mental it is considered as a PED. However the point being, these rules and regulations are arbitrarily made by the people in control of the league and their respective drug administrations. This comes down to the fact that most things controlled in major sports are by rich white men that can basically do whatever they want. Athletes are just pawns that they use for revenue, they do not care if they or the population disagree, they will do whatever they want and we cannot do anything about it except spread the word.
JASON AL-AGHA
ID: 007955257
PSY 332I
T/TH 12:30-1:45
I track track for 7 years and in community college I met someone who had ADHD (which is the new abbreviation for ADD) and he took adderall during track meets. He was a decathlete and was very hyper active. I actually laughed when he told me that he was on adderall at one of the meets but the he looked at me totally seriously and said no I have ADHD. I thought he was just taking it for the meet and to enhance his performance but he actually needed it for his condition.
above comment is from me!
Shannon Lawry
T/TH 2-315
332I
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