Sport Law Reflection: Analysis of Doping in Athletics and IOC Policies

This report provides a critical reflection on the issue of doping in athletics, drawing upon two articles that explore the complexities of this practice. The author examines the Russian Olympic doping scandal and its implications, highlighting the need for more robust anti-doping measures and stricter enforcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The report also discusses arguments for and against the legalization of doping, considering the effectiveness of current testing methods and the pressures athletes face to enhance their performance. The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of technological advancements in doping detection and the need for ethical considerations to ensure fair play and sportsmanship. The analysis underscores the necessity for the IOC to enhance its doping test procedures and implement the latest technologies to effectively combat the use of performance-enhancing drugs, ensuring the integrity of sports and the well-being of athletes.

Sport law reflection

Table of Contents
Critical reflection.............................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

Critical reflection
By analysing two articles online articles related with doping, I would like to say that
doping is considered as an illegal practice where athletes inject themselves with drugs in order to
enhance their efficiencies. In first article “Russian Olympic doping saga shows need for a
radically different approach” it was identified how 43 Russian athletes caught in doping tests at
Sochi Olympics 2014 and have to returned their medals and banned for lifetime from
participating in Olympic (Anderson, 2018). However, 39 athletes appealed to Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and 28 were successful in removing their ban. I can elucidate that
International Olympic Committee needs to make certain transformation in doping test policies
and practices in order to make it more robust. In another article “Why it’s time to legalise doping
in athletics” it was identified that doping test is not effective as only 2% of athletes caught in
doping test. A confidential survey conducted where it was found that athletes agreed that they
have taken drugs and participate in the sports in order to enhance their performance (Savulescu,
2015). I identified that in order to get fame and rewards, athletes tends to use drugs and other
substances in order to enhance their performance. It was suggested by the authors that by
reducing the rewards would help International Olympic Committee to eliminate the doping in the
Olympics. In this article I discovered that authors argued on the dope test procedures done by
International Olympic Committee and recommends that committee should allow safe doping or
psychological doping. In this by setting safe limits for physiological values such as testosterone
levels, and hematocrit – a measure of the number of red blood cells in a person’s blood. Testing
then focuses not on how those levels were achieved, but on whether they are safe. In order to
eradicate the issues of doping and drugs substance taken by the athletes, it is important for the
International Olympic Committee to enhance their dope test procedure with the help of advance
technologies. This can help them to generate robust evidence which they can show it in the court.
I can say that by doing so, athletes will avoid taking drugs due to fear of lifetime ban. Thus, by
analysing both the articles thoroughly, I can conclude that anti doping system needs some
upgrades so that it can catch those athletes who have taken drugs substances in order to enhance
their performance. It is the duty and responsibility of the International Olympic Committee to
enhance the practices and implement latest technologies so that they could trace minimum to
minimum drugs taken by the athletes. In my opinion it is essential as it will allow fair game and
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enhance the sports spirit among athletes. Thus, from analysis it can be understood that doping is
a serious crime and in order to enhance athletes performance, drugs have been given to them.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Anderson, J., 2018. Russian Olympic doping saga shows need for a radically different
approach:<https://theconversation.com/russian-olympic-doping-saga-shows-need-for-a-
radically-different-approach-90850>
Savulescu, J., 2015. Why it’s time to legalise doping in athletics. [Online]. Available
through:<https://theconversation.com/why-its-time-to-legalise-doping-in-athletics-46514>
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