If you could not get caught, would you do it?

[99goals]

Just thinking about Colabello's PED debacle and got to thinking..

If I could not get caught, would I dope up if I was a athlete.

I am on the fence personally. I am one of those cats that think pretty much everyone cheats, why not just go with the flow and be the best uber human athlete out there.

Your turn.. I have added a poll too..

 

[dburzyn]

I certainly would... I have been exposed to friends cycling steroids for sports/ bodybuilding, and done properly and relatively in moderation it can be OK... biggest concern for me would be heart complications, as heart issues run rampant in my family.

I have always supported steroids in sports... I want to see THE BEST that a human can become (regardless of natural or not)- adds to the entertainment factor for me, which is all sports really are. Compare natural vs. conventional bodybuilding and you can see no one cares about the natural guys who are half the size of their counterparts- same idea for me in sports, lets see the freaks!

Again just my opinion and personal preference, to each their own.

Dave

 

[will-411]

Wow... tough question. One has to consider though that being caught is only one of the negatives. Taking that out leaves the myriad health risks that go along with PED's.. I like to believe that the reason there are the anti PED rules is to save people from themselves, as opposed to ensuring a level playing field.

I can't balance coercing someone to give up their health for my entertainment value, whether they choose to do so or not.

In regards to whether I'd do it though, I would think that MOST high level performance athletes would do it if they knew they would not get caught; their mentality seems to be geared to winning, not long term health, so the answer is yes, if I was a high level athlete, I probably would, but with the understanding that the culture I would be immersed in would probably take most of the rational, balanced thinking away.

Cory

 

[Superdoup]

This is a bit funny when you think about this. When we are kids, sports are made so we don't fall in the party mode all the time.
Now, it's like go in sports kid! you will have access to dope that you cannot find in your pushers' closet!
Sports is for clean dudes and the drug heads can go play on their streets or house leagues.
Plus consider the message you are sending to the ones watching you...

 

[99goals]

This is a bit funny when you think about this. When we are kids, sports are made so we don't fall in the party mode all the time.
Now, it's like go in sports kid! you will have access to dope that you cannot find in your pushers' closet!
Sports is for clean dudes and the drug heads can go play on their streets or house leagues.
Plus consider the message you are sending to the ones watching you...

A very interesting vantage point. Well articulated.

 

[quincy]

No. Either you have integrity or you do not. I flatter myself that I do.

 

[99goals]

No. Either you have integrity or you do not. I flatter myself that I do.

You are not alone. I am deeply happy with the responses thus far based on the polling. Clearly there are people way more confident in their ethical baseline than I. However I knew that my reply would prolly irk some but a topic nonetheless.

 

[bamlinden]

While I am not surprised by the overwhelming poll stats, it's a lot easier to state one way or another when the subject presents itself out of the blue (nobody was wondering or pondering this question a day ago).

It would be interesting to see how people would respond if they were involved in the sport for years, being exposed to the culture (both good and bad) on a day in, day out basis and the dreaded "peer pressure". Might not be as easy a time to decide one way or the other.

Interesting debate though.

 

[dahabsfan]

I have a feeling a LOT of the "no" answers would be greatly changed when staring at the potential of 7/$200Mil contracts.... It's easy to say but until facing that scenario....

Darren

 

[99goals]

bump for more input if you so dare.. post your reply.

 

[habsheaven]

What is an accomplishment or a win if YOU KNOW you achieved it by cheating? Never!!!

 

[rabbity]

No one else might know, but I would. Nothing's worth being a cheater.

 

[quincy]

I would rather fail honestly than prosper by cheating.

 

[chadsexington]

I have a feeling a LOT of the "no" answers would be greatly changed when staring at the potential of 7/$200Mil contracts.... It's easy to say but until facing that scenario....

Darren

I look at this and in my mindset, I'd do it for that much money. The thought of prospering from a short term career and leaving enough money to retire for the rest of my life and enough for future generations to have something left over is too enticing.

I would be likely to cheat under 2 scenarios that are fully different ends of the spectrum:

1) If I were a fringe player that needed to keep his spot where the difference was a flying everywhere and getting paid $600 K a year vs. riding a bus from town to town for $50K a year

2) Darren's scenario.

If I were likely to be a middle of the road player with similar production numbers and thusly similar contracts year to year, I wouldn't take PEDs since I'm in a pretty comfortable place and messing with that balance would be very measurable and obvious.

I'm not even going to begin to talk to you guys about ethics etc etc. I'm a generally ethical person in my day to day life but providing for my family always takes precedent. I'm not going to lie to you guys knowing what my choice would be if presented with it.

 

[Triple B]

There were guys on my football and baseball teams in high school who were on steroids. I was a gym rat back in the day and their gains were 10x my own. I could have, but didn't. I was never a football captain but I was an alternate on the baseball team. I played clean. Would I have done it to get to the next level? I doubt it.

On another note, I WOULD like to see the Olympics make steroid use mandatory only so I can see someone run the 100m Dash in 6 seconds with the guy SCREAMING the whole way. I like comedy.