Doping in Russia

Doping in Russia

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Doping in Russia

Russia is notorious for the use of drugs to facilitate cheating in sports. Specifically, history suggests that many Russian athletes have been using performance-enhancing drugs. Consequently, Russia has experienced some devastating consequences from such deviant behaviour among its athletes. For instance, Russia received four year-ban from global sports and the 2020 Olympics due to doping practices when over a hundred athletes tested positive for drug abuse (NBC Sports, 2019). Doping is the practice of using performance-enhancing drugs in sporting events (Campos, Yonamine & de Moraes Moreau, 2003). The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that strives to fight deviant behaviours, such as the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport (Hughes, 2015). Even so, history shows that Russia has been engaging in the abuse of drugs in sporting events for a relatively long time. For example, after interfering with urine samples, seven Russian athletes were barred from participating in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Likewise, many Russian athletes used drugs in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics (NBC Sports, 2019). Thus, drug use in sports has been rampant in Russia for several years.

Moreover, over 557 Russian athletes used performance-enhancing drugs in 2010. Unfortunately, Russia has been trying to conceal the use of drugs by its athletes. Available information assert that Russian athletes have been using drugs that may include methasterone, oxandrolone and trenbolone that are dissolved in alcohol or oral turinabol to avoid detection during tests (Oksman, 2016). Unluckily, the Russian government tents to promote the doping exercise by supplying the relevant drugs. Instead of diligently handling its mandate, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) appears to encourage the malpractice. For example, Russia conceals and cover-ups vital laboratory tests showing that some of the Russian athletes rely on doping (Ruiz, Macur & Austen, 2016). Also, many Russian officials have been banned due to their participation in doping activities. Hence, the Russian government has been facilitating and encouraging drug use in sporting events despite the presence of relevant bodies, including RUSADA and WADA that could have addressed the issue. Instead, Russia pretends to be fighting the malpractice as evidenced with the presence of RUSADA but promotes it. As a result, Russia emerges as the leading country in the world with regards to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.  

Unfortunately, drug usage could appear to be beneficial at the short-run, yet they would prove disastrous at the long-run. Precisely, abuse of drugs containing steroid components could result in adverse health complications such as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, tumours, liver damage and kidney failure. Moreover, Russia and its athletes have been stripped of several medals due to doping. Still, the country has attracted the worst reputation on matters about sport. Also, the Russian government has been banned from hosting some international events while some of its officials are denied access to certain sporting events. Therefore, Russian athletes and government seem not to benefit, but rather lose a lot from the use of performance-enhancing drugs.   

In conclusion, the use of drugs in sporting events has been rampant in Russia despite the existence of relevant bodies, including RUSADA and WADA that should fight the malpractice. The Russian government appears to be leading with regards to encouragement and facilitation of doping activities. Unfortunately, the use of drugs in sports has attracted lots of adverse consequences among the involved persons and the state. Specifically, athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs could experience catastrophic health complications during their later stages of life. Similarly, Russia and many athletes have been stripped of valuable medals and awards due to drug abuse. Therefore, drug use acts as one of the worst factors that negatively affect sporting events.

References

Campos, D. R., Yonamine, M., & de Moraes Moreau, R. L. (2003). Marijuana as doping in sports. Sports medicine, 33(6), 395-399.

Hughes, D. (2015). The world anti-doping code in sport: update for 2015. Australian prescriber, 38(5), 167.

NBC Sports. (2019). Timeline of Russia’s doping cases and cover-ups – OlympicTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/12/09/russia-doping-history/

Oksman, O. (2016). Russian Olympic team’s drug usage could have long term effects on athletes’ health. Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jul/28/russian-olympic-rio-team-drug-steroids-health-effectsRuiz, R. R., Macur, J., & Austen, I. (2016). Even with confession of cheating world’s doping watchdog did nothing. New York Times, 15.