Bioethical reflections on the doping phenomena and sports ethics

Abstract

In professional sport, doping is the use of prohibited drugs that improve the physical performance of athletes. Historically speaking, the origins of doping in sports have their roots since the ancient times, and the opinions of the public and of the athletes have varied greatly from country to country over the years. The general tendency among sports authorities and organizations over the last few decades has been to strictly regulate the consumption of doping substances in sports. The reasons for the ban are in particular the health risks of drugs that improve performance, equal opportunities for athletes and the benefits of sport without doping for the entire society. Public debates associated with the use of substances with a recent doping effect have entered the focus of bioethics, which could become an effective lever in guiding moral decisions in sport