In today’s ever-changing world, it has been suggested that more people are using performance-enhancing drugs in various sports. While this shift can cause several problems, I believe decisive measures can be taken to tackle these issues.
Unfair advantages are the main problem. Specifically, when professional athletes take these stimulants, they often enhance their physical skills significantly, gaining an unfair advantage in these global competitions. This not only allows them to outperform their opponents with ease but also undermines the integrity of the sport, damaging the reputation of the sport and the trust of its fans. Such unfair dynamics are particularly detrimental to young athletes, who may feel pressured to use these booster substances to stay competitive, which diminishes the value of hard work, dedication, and consistency.
Another major issue is the side effects of these substances. If sportsmen take excessive doses of those performance boosters in pursuit of reaching their full potential, they often develop long-term health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic illnesses, liver damage, and depression due to the dangerous chemical composition of those drugs. This turn of events is often followed by a series of life-threatening events such as heart strokes, losing consciousness, and having a hard time breathing, potentially leading to death. Take Tommy Simpson, an exceptional German cyclist who died after overdosing on anabolic steroids as an example. This case highlights the severity of risks associated with the misuse of performance-enhancing drugs, encouraging athletes to question their decision to prioritize short-term rewards over long-term health.
However, systematic approaches can be utilized to deal with this problem. In an era characterized by technological advancements, the establishment of AI tools equips sporting event organizers with the necessary tools to detect performance-boosting drug users. By harnessing the full power of AI modes, the organizers can catch the frequent drug-user patterns in competitors with pinpoint accuracy, as these participants are likely to have higher levels of certain hormones such as estrogen, growth, and testosterone compared to normal athletes. This can thereby exclude them from participating in these events, fostering fair competition and ensuring that athletes who engage in unethical practices are held accountable. For example, in tournaments where athletes undergo regular testing, AI systems can analyze their blood samples and performance data to identify irregularities that suggest the use of these drugs, effectively disqualifying them.
In conclusion, while the shift to using performance boosters poses serious problems such as unfair advantage and long-term health problems, I contend that exploiting AI tools can tackle the issue permanently.