Addressing Violence and Doping in Modern Sports

Sports Violence: Contradicting the Olympic Ideal

According to the ideal envisioned by Coubertin, sport was meant to bring people peace, health, philosophy, and beauty. However, scenes of violence today often contradict this ideal. This sports violence involves voluntary acts causing physical damage or harm to individuals or property directly related to sporting events. A prominent example is football hooliganism, particularly noted in England. Furthermore, the media can indirectly and unintentionally influence or encourage violence through certain imagery. It's important to note that this violence isn't limited to high-level competition; it also occurs in leisure sports. As has been observed, "violence does not disappear with civilization; it merely transforms." A tragic example highlighting this was the Heysel Stadium disaster during the European Cup final between Juventus (Turin) and Liverpool.

We must seek solutions through:

• Short-term goals: Establishing repression and police control.
• Long-term goals: Promoting "fair play" through media campaigns and other initiatives.

Doping in Sports: History, Pressures, and Controls

Doping is an age-old phenomenon, historically used by figures like shamans and healers within their societal roles. Doping can be defined as the intake of foreign substances to artificially and unfairly modify an athlete's performance. It shares similarities with recreational drug use ("getting high"). Even in the ancient Greek Olympics, forms of performance enhancement existed, related to consuming specific foods; for instance, some athletes consumed particular types of meat, believing it enhanced strength.

Unfortunately, the emphasis in sports has shifted. While participation was once paramount (as per the Coubertin ideal), today, winning often seems the only goal, detrimental to both the sport's spirit and athletes' health. This occurs even if it involves compromising an individual's health and integrity. Athletes face pressure to maintain or achieve records due to several factors:

• Media scrutiny and pressure.
• Demands from the entertainment aspect of sports (e.g., professional leagues like the NBA).
• Personal physical limitations.
• The need to win at all costs, driven by the potential for money and fame.

To combat this, authoritative bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) implement monitoring and control systems. These aim to detect doping and curb this "win-at-all-costs" or "kamikaze" approach to sport, thereby protecting athlete health and sports integrity.