Why not make performance enhancing drugs legal for sportsmen?

[W63L35]

I am not saying this just because Asif and Akhtar are found guilty of taking these drugs.....but I have always thought that sportsmen/women should be allowed to take these drugs/steroids. Why.......???
Here are my reasons;

1. Not all Sports make this illegal.
Why would you have some sports require random drug test and others not. Baseball in America does not require dope testing while other sports do. Everybody knows Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa used steroids to break all kinds of home run records. Either you make it illegal for all sports or it should be allowed.

2. Why random testing?
Either you test ALL sportsmen or you test nobody. It would have been fair to test all 140 cricketers in CT in India......but why these two got caught and others escaped....or why these two escaped in earlier tournaments and cricketers like Warne got caught?

3. Current System is NOT working.
Even after Warne got caught and punished......Shoaib/Asif used the steroids knowing the consequences. What does that tell you? This current system of testing is NOT working and players STILL use these drug.

Your thoughts????

[Salman]

My thoughts..

There is no need for these PE drugs in any sports..., The fact that these drugs are made and sold in diffrent countries by diffrent manufactures means they can never be regulated..

Yes, one type may make you stronger and faster, but some types can make grow a tried breasts and third eyes..

Asif & Akthar and anyone else using them needs to be dealt with in the correct manner...

[James]

Legalising performance enhancing drugs would make a mockery of cricket. Cricket is a physical and mental battle between men, where the stronger men on the day always triumph. When they are allowed to boost their abilities it defeats the purpose of having this contest!! Not to mention that long-term use of performance-enhancing drugs can have serious consequences in terms of health - heart problems, infertility etc.

Akhtar and Asif are a disgrace and deserve to be banned for 2 years.

[W63L35]

Originally Posted by Salman My thoughts.. There is no need for these PE drugs in any sports..., The fact that these drugs are made and sold in diffrent countries by diffrent manufactures means they can nerver be regulated.. Yes, one type may make you stronger and faster, but some types can make grow a tried breasts and third eyes.. Asif & Akthar and anyone else using them need to be dealt with in the proper manner...

I agree..... if some one beaks a law, he should ne punished but I am saying why not do away with the law??? Let all the sportsmen use whatever they want? If Warne, Asif or Akhtar can live with wearing a bra, so be it!

[W63L35]

Originally Posted by Whippy Legalising performance enhancing drugs would make a mockery of cricket. Cricket is a physical and mental battle between men, where the stronger men on the day always triumph. When they are allowed to boost their abilities it defeats the purpose of having this contest!!.

Not when everybody is allowed to take these drug. When everybody is taking those drug, all MEM will be strong!

Originally Posted by Whippy Not to mention that long-term use of performance-enhancing drugs can have serious consequences in terms of health - heart problems, infertility etc..

Apperantly these things don't stop sportsmen from putting their health and their playing career on the line!

Originally Posted by Whippy Akhtar and Asif are a disgrace and deserve to be banned for 2 years.

Agree....they broke the law and they should be punished.

[evertonfan]

Legallising PE enhancing drugs would be about as sensible as a gunfight with infinite ammo. Can things get any worse for Pakistani cricket?

[Khalil]

We supported Warne's ban and so it would have to accept Shoaib's ban.

[James]

Originally Posted by W63L35 Not when everybody is allowed to take these drug. When everybody is taking those drug, all MEM will be strong!

Good call, while we're at it lets legalise carrying firearms and knives, because then EVERYONE has a chance to murder each other and not just the select few!

Originally Posted by W63L35 Apperantly these things don't stop sportsmen from putting their health and their playing career on the line!

That is their fault for being selfish enough to pump themselves full of illegal substances because they want to have better career stats, and for being stupid enough to do it when the consequences of doping are publicised. Any ban they get, they will deserve. I dont care whether it is Akhtar and Asif, Ponting and McGrath, Flintoff and Pietersen doing this - I DO NOT CARE. There comes a time when you have to let go. Being fans of players stops when they dope. It is illegal and anyone who does it should be thrown out of the sport for at least 2 years.

[Billy]

Shane Watson's nipples would explode.

[i m gr8]

Why do people over here believe that for Pakistan everything should be legal while for any other country even legal things should be illegal?

Performance enhancing drugs should NEVER be LEGAL !

[James]

Don't get me wrong, I am really sad this has happened, especially to 2 of the better bowlers from the Asian bloc who were looking like they could turn this Pakistan side into a genuine challenger to Australia. BUT doping carries consequences and they are only welcome to dope if they accept these consequences.

[12thMan]

kids have died in USA because of steroid use. legalizing is not a solution to this problem. Baseball (MLB) as run in USA is a different issue and is not the same as international baseball as played in olympics. That is the only major sport in USA where congress has a say. it is the players association that has issues with it and perhaps some owners too as homeruns bring in fans and money. but they have added rules for it now which are not that harsh or anything close to 2 year ban for the first offence

[UJ]

These drugs can be harmful especially if not used properly (if there is such a thing) so legalizing them is not the way to go.

In regards to random testing, I think there should be testing across the all players involved in a tournament. Its the only way drug use will be prevented.

[Mercenary]

PE drugs can seriously affect people's health, make them impotent and turn them into freaks!!

They should never be allowed. Every player in cricket should have to submit to a drug test once every 3 months. 4 tests a year should catch out most players indulging in this practise.

[safehands46]

The whole issue is if the athlete is playing in a natural state not like a superman lifiting a billion pounds and so on. It is big issue because legitmacy is all the sport has.

[lakha84]

Mera Dil Kehta Hai Tuu Innocent Hai Shaoib Beta
Paaji Me Goin Crazy In This Roaler Coaster Ride Of Pakistan Cricket

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by W63L35 I am not saying this just because Asif and Akhtar are found guilty of taking these drugs.....but I have always thought that sportsmen/women should be allowed to take these drugs/steroids. Why.......??? Here are my reasons; 1. Not all Sports make this illegal. Why would you have some sports require random drug test and others not. Baseball in America does not require dope testing while other sports do. Everybody knows Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa used steroids to break all kinds of home run records. Either you make it illegal for all sports or it should be allowed.

So because one sport has a policy that has made it the laughing stock of the US media you want every other sport to follow suit?

2. Why random testing? Either you test ALL sportsmen or you test nobody. It would have been fair to test all 140 cricketers in CT in India......but why these two got caught and others escaped....or why these two escaped in earlier tournaments and cricketers like Warne got caught?

Cost/time

3. Current System is NOT working.

Even after Warne got caught and punished......Shoaib/Asif used the steroids knowing the consequences. What does that tell you? This current system of testing is NOT working and players STILL use these drug. Your thoughts????

Well murder is illegal and people are caught and punished for it every day. Yet people still commit murders daily despite knowing the consquences. What does this tell you?

Come on brothers, who's with me? LEGALISE MURDER!

[pakistani_banda]

Originally Posted by Whippy Legalising performance enhancing drugs would make a mockery of cricket. Cricket is a physical and mental battle between men, where the stronger men on the day always triumph. When they are allowed to boost their abilities it defeats the purpose of having this contest!! Not to mention that long-term use of performance-enhancing drugs can have serious consequences in terms of health - heart problems, infertility etc. Akhtar and Asif are a disgrace and deserve to be banned for 2 years.

hey its not their fault.... maybe their medicines to recover from their injuries contained those drugs........ and dont forget that shoaib had twin operations

[Hussain]

i dont think so testing players in Pakistan is the right idea

it may be practiseable in Australia and UK , where you cant get even an asprin without a doctor's prescription ..................so if you are caught of taking any PE drugs in there then you cant be innocent since you need a prescription from your doctor to purchase them , and the medicla expert must be knowing the effects of a medicine on your carreer and the drugs which are legal for you or not

However in Pakistan where even the most dangerous of drugs (like the sleeping [pills) could be found without a prescription even from the best of retailers here the tendency of of self medicatiojn is also quite high so the chances of being caught innocent are really high
with careers being put to risk(due to dope testing) as a result of a grannys or nanny's special totkas , itari dishes etc

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Hussain i dont think so testing players in Pakistan is the right idea it may be practiseable in Australia and UK , where you cant get even an asprin without a doctor's prescription ..................so if you are caught of taking any PE drugs in there then you cant be innocent since you need a prescription from your doctor to purchase them , and the medicla expert must be knowing the effects of a medicine on your carreer and the drugs which are legal for you or not However in Pakistan where even the most dangerous of drugs (like the sleeping [pills) could be found without a prescription even from the best of retailers here the tendency of of self medicatiojn is also quite high so the chances of being caught innocent are really high with careers being put to risk(due to dope testing) as a result of a grannys or nanny's special totkas , itari dishes etc

Ignorance not an excuse tbh

[taps]

sAD SAD DAY!

As for this stupid reasoning of making them legal ...Are you serious?What we see sports for is unbridled talent and feats of brilliant individuals..I woudlnt want Anil Kumble get the power of an Afridi with drugs and Pathan getting shoulders like Mike tyson using sterods..Takes the whole charm of the game out and whats more..ruins lives too..Then we might as wel play and see video games rather than artificially beefed up cricketers..Are u guys serious??

[KB]

As Simon Barnes wrote a few months ago:

Every time a drugs story hits the sports pages, there are letters written by smart alecs who ask: “Why bother to catch them? Why not let them take anything they want and let the best pharmacist win?” The fact is that people who like sport don’t want to watch doped athletes. We want athletes who have about them something of ourselves. We want to admire them, identify with them, revel in their stories, glory in their successes and their failures. If they become great athletes by means of drugs, they cease to be like us. The illusion that they are like us is lost. And without that illusion, sport — spectator sport — becomes unsustainable.

[Taurus]

Why not make ball tampering legal?

Why not make drug-use legal?

These two issues have both come up recently, and they have one thing in common...

[KB]

Why not make ball tampering legal? Why not make drug-use legal?

Calm down.

Only one person on this thread has suggested legalisation, most have disagreed with that notion.

As for calls to make ball tampering legal, such calls have been made before the events at the Oval took place.

[infamous9383]

stupid idea it can cause major health problems

[garbage_can2003]

The problem with legalizing PE substances is that those who are wise enough to look at the long-term implications of taking drugs will be pitted against the ones who are short-sighted and desperate to perform in order to gain sponsorships/contracts.

The end result will be that everyone will be forced to take drugs in order "to make it" to the highest level.

[z10]

Originally Posted by W63L35 I am not saying this just because Asif and Akhtar are found guilty of taking these drugs

we believe you

[James]

Originally Posted by pakistani_banda hey its not their fault.... maybe their medicines to recover from their injuries contained those drugs........ and dont forget that shoaib had twin operations

Where's that list from OzGod of history's lame excuses about doping? We have a new entry.

[the_game]

I think ban on substance abuse is more due to its health consequences than anything else. If these drugs had no ill effects, I'm sure all sport governing bodies would allow them, and everyone will be on equal grounds as everyone will be taking them.

[the_game]

Originally Posted by Whippy Where's that list from OzGod of history's lame excuses about doping? We have a new entry.

In Pakistan, anything is possible Whippy. A doctor will prescribe you anything, and the guy owning the pharmacy is usually the pharmacist regardless of academic qualifications! It's not the Western world where every prescription is regulated to the core.

[cavin420]

Word has it, most of the hakeem's in Pakistan, give you Steroids as medicine, well they have vast amount of steroids in most of the poureez .

that is confirmed news ;)

[kablooee87]

Originally Posted by the_game In Pakistan, anything is possible Whippy. A doctor will prescribe you anything, and the guy owning the pharmacy is usually the pharmacist regardless of academic qualifications! It's not the Western world where every prescription is regulated to the core.

There's a word for that. Negligence. These players don't go to some tin pot pharmacist. They have professional trainers and team doctors to look after them.

[the_game]

Originally Posted by kablooee87 There's a word for that. Negligence. These players don't go to some tin pot pharmacist. They have professional trainers and team doctors to look after them.

In Pakistan, anything is possible at any level kablooee. I'm not claiming their innocence, but it's Pakistan after all and those who have lived there or are living there know how things run. My point is, administration is to be blamed and negligence on their part would be the correct term.

[W63L35]

Wow...I was gone for a few hours and my idea got trashed all over!!

Ok....let me clarify this about third time which a few PPers have chose to ignore and have missed.
I totally agree that Shoaib and Asif broke the law, and they should be dealt and punished accordingly....no ifs and buts about it!!


Having said that, all I suggest that why not make these drug legal since players are using them ANYWAYS plus the current system of stopping them from doping has NOT worked!

Originally Posted by Big Mac So because one sport has a policy that has made it the laughing stock of the US media you want every other sport to follow suit?

Its not just Baseball.......there other sports where steroid use is common. What about bodybuilding?

Originally Posted by Big Mac Cost/time

All major sports bodies have a lot of money. I am sure they can afford the tests. I am not sure how expensive the test is...but can't be more than 30-40$. Nobody can convince me that ICC can not afford testing 140 player in CT or testing @200 test/ODI players once a year.
In my OP, I was questioning RANDOM testing. What kind of "random" test is this that Asif and Shoaib got picked but not Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousaf or Mohammad Hafeez??

Originally Posted by Big Mac Well murder is illegal and people are caught and punished for it every day. Yet people still commit murders daily despite knowing the consquences. What does this tell you? Come on brothers, who's with me? LEGALISE MURDER!

Originally Posted by Whippy Good call, while we're at it lets legalise carrying firearms and knives, because then EVERYONE has a chance to murder each other and not just the select few!

Just in case you have not noticed, there is a difference between murder which effects somebody else...and use of drugs that effects your OWN body!

Smoking and alcohol cause millions of deaths but they are legal. If the little warning about LUNG CANCER on the cigarette packs is enough to make it legal, then lets put a HUGE label on PE drugs for hair loss, facial hair, impotence and enlarged breasts....and let the players use these if they want to!

Also, there is a huge support in US for making marijuana legal.
http://www.norml.org/

Originally Posted by ggm Calm down. Only one person on this thread has suggested legalisation, most have disagreed with that notion.

Well, some people can't have decent discussion.......

Originally Posted by ggm As for calls to make ball tampering legal, such calls have been made before the events at the Oval took place.

This "stupid" idea of making doping legal has come up before.....way before Asif and Shoaib were caught! Just look at the peice by Simmon Barnes you posted!

Originally Posted by garbage_can2003 The problem with legalizing PE substances is that those who are wise enough to look at the long-term implications of taking drugs will be pitted against the ones who are short-sighted and desperate to perform in order to gain sponsorships/contracts. The end result will be that everyone will be forced to take drugs in order "to make it" to the highest level.

Good point...but the problem is that it is still happening in the current shape or form the doping law.

Originally Posted by Simon Barnes Every time a drugs story hits the sports pages, there are letters written by smart alecs who ask: “Why bother to catch them? Why not let them take anything they want and let the best pharmacist win?” The fact is that people who like sport don’t want to watch doped athletes. (1) We want athletes who have about them something of ourselves. We want to admire them, identify with them, revel in their stories, glory in their successes and their failures. If they become great athletes by means of drugs, they cease to be like us. (2) The illusion that they are like us is lost. And without that illusion, sport — spectator sport — becomes unsustainable.

Nice point Simon but.......
(1) Millions of people LOVE and WANT to watch baseball, body building and other sports where doping is legal.
(2) You are wrong Simon....the moment somebody becomes a "great athlete", he is NOT like us.........even without doping. Most of us watch great athlete because they are NOT like us.

[safehands46]

I am down for legaliation but put an asterisks. So the people who didnt dope in the past can be seperated and hold there records.

[z10]

Originally Posted by W63L35 (2) You are wrong Simon....the moment somebody becomes a "great athlete", he is NOT like us.........even without doping. Most of us watch great athlete because they are NOT like us.

not true, when we see great players we envision ourselves in their place, we want to emulate them, we pick up a bat and swing it like afridi, defend like dravid, we bowl leggies at the wall

its all because we identify with the players

[safehands46]

All I know is I dotn want barry bonds or ben johnson in the same breath as hank aaron or carl lewis.

[W63L35]

Originally Posted by z10 not true, when we see great players we envision ourselves in their place, we want to emulate them, we pick up a bat and swing it like afridi, defend like dravid, we bowl leggies at the wall its all because we identify with the players

How many people will pay to watch you bat and bowl??

[z10]

Originally Posted by W63L35 How many people will pay to watch you bat and bowl??

that's sidestepping the point, my dear statistician ;)

[MediumPacer]

Would you have created the same thread if Tendulkar and Sehwag were found to be taking illegal drugs?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by MediumPacer Would you have created the same thread if Tendulkar and Sehwag were found to be taking illegal drugs?

Well Shewag is losing hair .... suspicious

[12thMan]

One thing that will come out with legalizing drugs is the sponsors and endorsements for individuals and teams by pharmacutical labs/companies

use "Jolly Green Giant" and you can give a ride to your kids by having them sit on your biscep and flexing it

[cavin420]

what i would like to know is, how long does it take, after taking the drugs, that no traces can be found , from your urine samples or blood samples, i mean how long does it take for everything to get Clean/recycled (you know what i mean!

any drugee out there ? ? ?

[cavin420]

Big Mac, Hash or z10 , perhaps ?

[z10]

takes 40 days for weed to be out of the system, not sure about steroids

[cavin420]

Originally Posted by z10 takes 40 days for weed to be out of the system, not sure about steroids

Completely ? no one can trace it, no matter which test they carry out ?

[z10]

Originally Posted by cavin420 Completely ? no one can trace it, no matter which test they carry out ?

as far as i know, yes

[Sabika]

Originally Posted by evertonfan Legallising PE enhancing drugs would be about as sensible as a gunfight with infinite ammo. Can things get any worse for Pakistani cricket?

i hope they cant get any worse im pretty saure they will tehre is no stopping it

[cavin420]

Originally Posted by z10 as far as i know, yes

clearly you are an amateur at it;), perhaps Big Mac or Hash would be of more help.

[z10]

chal bay o cavin day bachay

who cares about this stuff when 'chilling out' ?

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by cavin420 Big Mac, Hash or z10 , perhaps ?

[StumpMic]

Originally Posted by cavin420 Completely ? no one can trace it, no matter which test they carry out ?

You can always submit somebody elses ****

[Genghis]

I can't even beleive anyone would think for a second about legalising PE drugs in cricket.

Sport is meant to be a test of strength, skill, stamina. Not a test of which country can find the best drugs to make their athletes the best possible. When you watch a game of cricket, you want to see how good a player really is by himself, by his experience, by his training.

And if you make it legal, from which age can you start taking PE drugs. We can just imagine U12 cricket, where 2-3 of the kids are taking PE drugs and the rest are made to look like amateurs. Why would anyone want to see a game which is not a game between men, but a game which is between who has the better PE drugs.

The comparison with baseball is pointless. We are talking here about arrogant, brainwashed Americans who know nothing better than to see the longest hit and the fastest throw. Even baseball when played at the international level needs to be clean. And then to compare an elegant sport with a glorified fashion contest such as a weightlifting is absurd.

If sport ever went down this path, we can forget about the term "superstar" and instead it will be all about the "superdrug".

[safehands46]

Originally Posted by genghis81 I can't even beleive anyone would think for a second about legalising PE drugs in cricket. Sport is meant to be a test of strength, skill, stamina. Not a test of which country can find the best drugs to make their athletes the best possible. When you watch a game of cricket, you want to see how good a player really is by himself, by his experience, by his training. And if you make it legal, from which age can you start taking PE drugs. We can just imagine U12 cricket, where 2-3 of the kids are taking PE drugs and the rest are made to look like amateurs. Why would anyone want to see a game which is not a game between men, but a game which is between who has the better PE drugs. The comparison with baseball is pointless. We are talking here about arrogant, brainwashed Americans who know nothing better than to see the longest hit and the fastest throw. Even baseball when played at the international level needs to be clean. And then to compare an elegant sport with a glorified fashion contest such as a weightlifting is absurd. If sport ever went down this path, we can forget about the term "superstar" and instead it will be all about the "superdrug".

Spot on and its and drugs are bad.

[James]

Originally Posted by StumpMic You can always submit somebody elses ****

Been watching American Beauty too much?

[Hash]

Originally Posted by cavin420 clearly you are an amateur at it;), perhaps Big Mac or Hash would be of more help.

If you smoke weed every day for a while and then stop...it can take 5-6 weeks and it will be totally, utterly and completely out of your system (ie undetectable). If you only indulge once in a while it will take 2-3 weeks before being undetactable.