The drugs-in-sport problem could not be solved if all competitors were allowed to use anything they like, as it takes away the idea of people using their physical abilities. The tradition of sport that has existed for many years would be ignored and the drugs would have terrible effects on those athletes striving to be the best.
             Allowing competitors to use any kind of drugs would take away the customs of sport that have existed since ancient times. The Greeks began competitions that showed the physical abilities of many people hundreds of years ago. Sport achieved a status in the social life of Greece, and many people strived for first place. However, the competitive nature of the competitors eventually led to cheating and corruption. Even in this period people were allegedly willing to consume any substances, which might enhance their performance, including extracts of mushrooms and plant seeds. Sport was originally created for fun and as a way of proving a person's physical talent. By cheating, or taking drugs it contradicts the ethics of sport that have been present for years.
             Successful athletes at the highest level are sometimes elevated to positions of heroes and carry the pressures of national honour and pride with them. Countries also use their athletes as political weapons. In international competition, one country's sporting successes over another country are often viewed as proof of ideological or national superiority. Such is the case in the Olympic games, where enormous emphasis is placed on the number of gold medals won by a country. Sport has developed into a significant social institution and to succeed in sport has become highly valued. This has placed pressure on sports people to become not only successful, but the best. This pressure has contributed to the rise in the incidence of drug taking and the number of drug related deaths within the sporting community. An athlete's desire to win, the desire to...