What is the rôle of doping in sports, and how is it controlled ?

« Theme ; To make society sub-theme : unity and plurality Topic : The Role of doping in sports and its regulation Key Question : What is the rôle of doping in sports, and how is it controlled ? Documents : _The World Anti-Doping Code ; WADA ; 2021 _ Doping in sport: What is it and how is it being tackled? ; BBC ; 2015 _BALCO Fast Facts ; CNN ; 2022 _ Former senior police officer to head investigation into UK Anti-doping ; The Guardian ; 2016 _ 2022 Anti-doping Testing Figures ; WADA ; 2022 _ Rodchenkov Anti-doping ; congress.gov ; 2019 _ World anti doping agency faces crisis after US government withholds fundings ? ; The Guardian ; 2025 Introduction : Hello, today i will address the issue of doping in sports. Doping is one of the biggest challenges in modern sports.

Over the years, many athletes have used illegal substances to improve their performance, which has led to scandals, health risks, and stricter regulations.

While doping exists worldwide, anglophone countries like the US, the UK, and Canada have played a major rôle in both anti-doping efforts and exposing doping cases. This raises the question ; How have anglophone countries fought against doping, and what challenges remain today ? To answer that , I will first explain what doping is and why it is dangerous.

Then I will look at major doping scandals that have changed sports history.

Finally I will discuss how anti-doping measureshave elvolved and if they are really effective. I- What is doping and why is it dangerous ? 1)Definition and types of doping Doping means using forbiden substances or methods to perform betteer in sports.

Some common examples are : -EPO ( erythropoietin) ; helps the blood carry more oxygen, often used in cycling and endurance sports. - Anabolic steroids ; help build muscles faster, popular in weightlifting and athletics. - Blood transfusions – increase stamina by adding more red blood cells. (°BBC) These methods confer unfair advantages, which is why they are prohibited by the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA). 2) Health risks and ethical issues Doping is not just cheating , it’s also dangerous.

Athletes who use EPO have a higher risk of heart attacks.

Steroids can cause serious liver problems and even affect mental health. According to the World Anti doping code : « Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport and enfangers athletes health » (°The World Anti-Doping Code) But doping is not only a health problem.

It’s also damages the reputation of sports.

Fans want to see fair competitions, not races where the winner is just the best cheater. This is why countries like the US, the UK, and Canada have strict anti-doping rules. However, history shows that rules are not always enough, and new doping scandals keep appearing. II- Doping Scandals that changed Sports 1) In the 2000s, the US had a big doping scandal called BALCO scandal.

BALCO ( Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) was a company that gave illegal drugs to famous athletes.

These drugs helped them run faster, get stronger, and recover quicker, but they were banned in sports. What happened ? - BALCO created a secret drug called « the Clear », a steroid that couldn’t be found in normal doping tests. - Many famous American athletes used these drugs, including Marion Jones ( a sprinter) and Barry Bonds ( a baseball player) - The US government investigated BALCO, and several people, including athletes had legal problems. Consequences : - Marion Jones admitted to using steroids .

She lost her Olympic medals and went to prison for six months. - Barry Bonds was accused of lying about using steroids.

His reputation was damaged, even though he was one of baseball’s biggest stars. - The US changed it’s anti-doping rules, making drug tests stricter to.... »