Deviance in Sport
By: Emily Forloines & Alex Wenrich
On November 5th
we discussed the topic of, “Why do Athletes Take Drugs?” Athletes utilize drugs
for physiological, psychological, and social reasons.
An athletes’ made reason to consume drugs is
for a physiological Reason. This increases ones oxygen transport through their
body. Some professional athletes mask injuries and reduce tiredness so one is
more dominant on the playing field. Drugs allow athletes to quickly build
muscle, increase energy, and lose weight.
Secondly,
athletes’ ingest drugs for psychological reasons. Much like any normal human it
is easier to perform and compete if your motivation was increased. For example,
if you are a placekicker in the N.F.L. and used PED’s, oneself would be extra
confidant they could make a long field goal. Following the increase of
motivation, some athletes need to utilize drugs that steady their nerves such
as an Archer. The final reason to consume a drug for psychological reason is to
increase one aggression. This could be most useful for football, ice hockey,
wrestling, and boxing.
Finally, the
social reason is the most inexcusable reason, “Why Athletes Take Drugs.” I
personally believe that this is ruining our sports culture. Athletes are
prepared to win at all costs. Many have the idea; everyone else is doing it, so
why should I not take them. Every athlete faces the pressure to win from
coaches, peers, and media. They have all have a fear of not winning. By winning
athletes earn larger paychecks.
On December 1st
2013, Settle Seahawk cornerback Brandon Browner is facing a one-year suspension
from the National Football League (NFL) for violating their substance-abuse
policy. During class we learned about the 3 stages in the NFL. The first stage
is a 4 game suspension; the second stage is an 8 game suspension, and the third
stage is a 1-year suspension from the league. Browner was being charged for
failure to cooperate from a drug test from the 2006-2007 season while he was
under contract with the Calgary Stampeders, a Canadian Football League (CFL)
team. Brandon Browner plans on appealing the 1-year suspension because he never
received an 8 game suspension, stage 2. The NFL claims that they had sent
several letters to the address that they believed was Browner’s, but he does
not reside at that resident. Browner returned to the NFL in 2011. He had no idea that
he was in stage 3 of the NFL’s drug program. On the official NFL player
transaction page, there is no record of suspension from Denver, his first NFL
team. The Settle Seahawks had no knowledge either upon signing him. In August
of 2011, Browner got a letter from the league stating that he is now in stage
3. Brandon Browner is still facing the ramifications while his lawyer and the
league system figure out his new path. Browner
is not expected to be resigned by the Seahawks because of the use of PED’s and
other band substances. All in all I
believe the NFL’s three-stage program is too much. It should be a blessing to
be in the NFL, if they cannot stay clean just once they should not be allowed
in the league.
According to
Coakley’s text, Chapter 6 covers the area of deviance in sports. He then goes on to mention that, “Why do we
focus on deviance only on athletes?” I would like to answer that question
myself by hitting two key points; professional athletes are role models, and
the athletes should have morals. Athletes need to realize they are what are
paving the way for the next generation of star athletes. When a child has a
role model they follow everything about them and even try to act like them. It
may sound ludacris, but some children will do drugs just because someone famous
does drugs. Athletes that are taking ban substances also put a bad image on the
team and the league itself. Secondly, deviance is unmoral. Using PED’s gives
players an unfair advantage and takes away from the true spirit of the
game.
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