ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses issues about artificial enhancement of competitive abilities of athletes, specifically, the problems associated with the use of drugs that are designed and consumed to enhance athletic performance. Professional and amateur sports teams, leagues and international competitions, such as the Olympics, have experienced scandals about competitors' use of performance-enhancing drugs; these scandals have significantly harmed the reputation of all concerned. The chapter also explores many of the issues facing leagues, teams, and youth coaches as they attempt to maintain the integrity of their sport and the health of their players in a national and international sports culture that encourages success and victory at any cost. This requires a consideration of the regulatory framework that has been created to prevent use of such substances. The professional sports leagues also took the position that taking illegal drugs was inconsistent with the integrity of the game, as well as constituting a potential health problem for players.
