Since there hasn't been any controversy in the the forums lately, perhaps we should smack the hornet's nest a bit...
What are your thoughts regarding the following hypothetical situation as it relates to competition:
Suppose that tomorrow morning we wake up to find that medical researchers have discovered that a mixture of various substances (e.g. human growth hormone, testosterone, etc) can be taken with little or no bad side effects. Furthermore, it offers the following benefits on average:
1) A longer life span.
2) Improved general health, both mental and physical.
3) Greater resistance to some of the more common severe health problems such as heart disease, cancers, alzheimer's, etc.
Suppose that it also has a strong positive affect on one's swimming performance.
Suppose further that this treatment is expensive and not covered by most health insurers.
Question: Are the people who take it for the health benefits welcome to compete in master's swimming? Would your answer be different if the treatment were available inexpensively/free to everyone?
-LBJ
Parents
Former Member
Unfortunately the proposition is nonsense. Guvnah said it right that if "it" existed, and we knew it, then I and everyone would buy it and use it (there is no ethical dilema). On the other hand, if you can afford Suzanne Sommer's doctor and you are willing to take the risk, you are already able to benefit by taking hormones.
What would be more likely to happen is that if virtually everyone was doping (real cheating and lying) like in procycling and you had to decide if you were in the right field or had the right hobby.
Unfortunately the proposition is nonsense. Guvnah said it right that if "it" existed, and we knew it, then I and everyone would buy it and use it (there is no ethical dilema). On the other hand, if you can afford Suzanne Sommer's doctor and you are willing to take the risk, you are already able to benefit by taking hormones.
What would be more likely to happen is that if virtually everyone was doping (real cheating and lying) like in procycling and you had to decide if you were in the right field or had the right hobby.
