Mandatory Drug Testing: Pushing For An Even Playing Field

As children, many people are introduced to the famous quote by late National Football League coach, Vince Lombardi, which is "winning isn't everything; it's the only thing" (Voy 204). Sports have always been about winning; however, some professional and amateur athletes take this simple saying too literally and it changes their outlook on their profession. As high school and even middle school athletes, they start to take drugs in order to be accepted, or to better their performance on the playing field (Louria n.pag). Once theses athletes reach the college level; they experiment, and are surrounded by even more drugs in order to get any advantage. It is not fair that one athlete can work hard in order to improve his performance, but then have another athlete improve more than him due to being wired on cocaine or bulked up on steroids. Also, Robert Voy states that drug use today is the biggest threat to the Olympics ideal, thus the Olympics and many other professional organizations are turning to drug testing. Testing is a huge controversy today because many believe that it violates one's right of privacy; however, if there is no testing, many athletes will continue to have an unfair advantage to non drug users (180). Furthermore, it injures the user because it will result in mood changes, and it will hurt their health, if not immediately, then it will later on in their life. The chance of being caught using drugs is so small compared to the achievements one will have while using drugs which is so vast. No athlete should have an unfair advantage, these advantages only promote drug use, which many athletes believe it is a necessary means in today's time. The only way to have the use of drugs decrease is to have mandatory drug testing across the board for all athletes.

Voy stated that since the beginning of sport competition, athletes have searched for an easier alternative method in order to succeed in their sport (3). In the first Olympics, the participants would enhance themselves by consuming meat months before the start of the games. The Greeks were aware that the meat they consumed was full of testosterone, which they so desperately desired in order to compete (5). Athletes since then, have continued using a variety of ways in order to succeed in their sport. In the 1800s they turned to caffeine, ether-coated sugar cubes, and even nitroglycerin because it was believe that the heart would pump more blood and reduce fatigue (10). Voy further states that this practice continued throughout the 1900s; however, many athletes during this time, especially cyclist and long distance runners, ended up dying as a result of this deadly concoction. It was not until after World War Two, in which amphetamines were introduced to athletes. Many football and baseball players used amphetamines, a stimulant that increased concentration and reduced fatigue, partly because the drug was so easily accessed (12). In the 1940s, many forms of amphetamines were ale to be purchased over the counter; so many players abused the stimulant (13). The possibilities of drug use was so great that many athletes used drugs freely without punishment.

In the 1970, after the Vietnam War, many of the returning soldiers were found with heroin addictions, which started the first idea of mandatory drug testing. However, Nardo states that the War on Drugs reached a new high in 1986, in which President Ronald Reagan heavily promoted drug testing in the workplace. That year, the NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association, started a drug testing program that put jurisdiction over all collegiate athletes (23). If an athlete's drug test was found to be positive, then the participant could not participate in any NCAA game or tournament (24). This rule shows that no one, no matter how talented they may be, can escape punishment.

Doyice Cotton and John Woldhan explain how those who are against the drug test believe that it violates the fourth amendment, thus, testing should not be done (504). The American Civil Liberties Union, otherwise known as the ACLU, is one such organization that believes mandatory drug testing is unconstitutional. They believe that testing individuals is ineffective, especially when they are athletes (503). The owners of Major League Baseball teams have never dared tested their players because it would violate the privacy rights of the players, and the players have the money to get lawyers to protect their own rights (Worsnop n.pag). The people against testing argue that testing the minority of athletes at schools will not stop the overall use of students that use drugs. Furthermore, there are ways to appear positive even if one does not take drugs (n.pag). By eating poppy muffins, and by taking over-the-counter or prescription medicine one can appear positive for many drugs such as opium and heroin (Louria n.pag). If one is found to be falsely accused, it can ruin their reputation, and it can lose their eligibility for their sport or job. One such athlete that was falsely accused was marathoner Ria Van Landeghem. Because of her positive outcome, she was forced to leave the Olympic Village; it was not until after the Olympics that it was found that her test was false (Nelson 7). If there one can ruin their reputation, and one does not have their own rights of the constitution, drug testing could ruin an individual.

Louria explains that in 1995 it was brought to attention of the Supreme Court in the case of Vernonia vs. Acton when a school randomly tested drug use of student athletes. The Court upheld the testing by stating that athletes engage in dangerous activity so they are more likely to be under the influence of drugs. Since athletes are also in the shower, they expose themselves, showing no care in privacy rights (n.pag). Furthermore, she states that the athletes that expose themselves to not carry the right of privacy, so they are open to drug testing. This ruling has been called the "communal shower ruling". The key to drug testing; however, is not to hurt one suspicious individual; it is to make an even ground for all athletes (n.pag). Dr Robert Roy, a former chief medical officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee, believes that drug tests are needed to keep competition fair, for users have an unfair advantage as compared to non users (Nardo 80). Currently, there are many different types of testing. The most common type of drug testing is the urine test. Voy adds that besides the urine test, there is also the hair test, saliva drug screen, and sweat drug screen. The only negative aspect of hair testing is that it is more costly due to urine testing, and it cannot be used if one does not have hair. However; despite all of these different types of test, there it does not specify the type of drug that the athlete is using (178). Most do have a variety of drugs that could