In recent “steroid news”, Lance Armstrong is being questioned, yet again, for the possible abuse of performance enhancing drugs. Armstrong, who won every Tour de France from 1999-2005, is under speculation for occasional visits with Dr. Michele Ferrari, a trainer, barred for life by the Italian Cycling Federation and known to be the head of widespread doping scandals. Armstrong claims: “I've always maintained those guys are my friends and that's not going to change.” The meetings were described as “social”.
This story, as well as almost any other performance enhancing drug story, goes to show the severe effects that one incident can have on an individual in the public sphere. With the strict regulations placed on athletes in our current times, is it even worth the risk of taking performance enhancing drugs. One may feel that with the number of athletes doping they are placed at a disadvantage if they too are not on steroids. The truth is they are bound to be caught, and when they are their reputations are tarnished and in most cases their careers go straight down hill. It amazes me to see that athletes like Lance Armstrong, who have been previously convicted (multiple times), continue to place themselves in questionable positions. Sure they are under extreme scrutiny, but for good reason … Just play the games the way they are intended to be played.
I also feel that once an athlete is accused using performance enhancing drugs, their reputations are immediately tarnished. Although I don't believe Lance Armstrong ever doped, when questions are raised in the media, I subconsciously begin to think suspiciously of him. Especially considering this controversy has been raised multiple times. If he is in fact innocent, my sincerity goes out to him for having to put up with scrutiny that could ruin his reputation forever. At the same time, most of these continuous cases that you'll see in baseball and other sports result in charges. It'll be interesting to see the outcome of this iconic American athlete.
ReplyDeleteWhen Albert Pujols is accused of steroids, I pledge to never watch baseball again. I am still trying to figure out why anyone with the life that they live, that is playing their favorite sport for a living, would do something that would throw everything out the window.
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