Anti-doping policies: choosing between imperfections.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_DB86A481684D
Type
A part of a book
Publication sub-type
Chapter: chapter ou part
Collection
Publications
Title
Anti-doping policies: choosing between imperfections.
Title of the book
AthleticEnhancement, Human Nature and Ethics
Author(s)
Kayser B., Broeres B.
Publisher
Springer
Address of publication
Dordrecht
ISBN
978-94-007-5100-2
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2013
Editor
Tolleneer J., Sterckx S., Bonte P.
Volume
52
Series
International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine
Chapter
15
Pages
271-289
Language
english
Abstract
In this chapter we suggest an alternative way of dealing with the problem of doping in sports. We find that today's anti-doping policies are excessive, mostly driven by ideology and political convenience, ethically problematic, insufficiently effective, costly, and are possibly leading to more harm to society than they prevent. Anti-doping cannot achieve its declared objective (eradication of doping) since it cannot overcome the strong pressure towards winning at all cost and the limited effectiveness of surveillance. We think that the discussions on doping and anti-doping should not ignore the imperfect practical outcomes of current anti-doping policies, in elite, amateur and outside sports. Today's anti-doping is not a solution, but an increasingly costly imperfection. We do not claim to know a way to an ultimate solution, simply because none exists, but we propose to consider a pragmatic utilitarian alternative respecting public health and ethical principles. We do this by drawing parallels between current anti-doping efforts and the 'war on drugs'. Instead of an increasingly repressive anti-doping policy based on zero-tolerance with negative side effects, we propose to discuss another imperfection, one that might come with a reduced cost to the individual and society as compared to today's imperfection, and that is based on regulation and harm minimisation
Create date
07/10/2013 10:30
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:00
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