Audio presentation of recent drug use in professional cycling, serving as a lead-in to a class discussion. By Brian Sather,  History, Philosophy, & Ethics of Sport Class at Eastern Oregon University on 2009-09-29.

Related written presentation from a few years earlier:

Cyclist Tyler Hamilton Fails Drug Test

Sources

Fox Sports News. (July 21, 2004). I’m a drug cheat: Millar. Retrieved September 23, 2004, from http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,10200955-23209,00.html Read more »

Determinism: Behavior is caused. Biological determinism (nature, nativist) believe genetic predisposition explains behavior. Environmental determinism (nurture, empiricists) believe environmental stimuli is caused.

Indeterminism: Behavior is determined but we cannot accurately measure it.

Nondeterminism: Free will.

Mind-Body Problem Read more »

Hippocrates (460-377 BC): Recommended curing body of ailments with rest, proper diet, exercise, fresh air, massage, and baths. Read more »

St. Augustine: Since we are all together in our miserable condition on earth, and since we are all children of one Creator, we ought to help one another as much as we can. This state exists for penal and not social reasons and was designed this way by God. The evils of this world are therefore to be seen as either goods in disguise or well merited punishments. This is in direct contrast with classical view of human self-control, self-discipline, and self-sufficiency. Read more »

Notes based on Lumpkin, A., Stoll, S.K., & Beller, J.M. (2003). Sport Ethics: Application for Fair Play (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill

Ethics: Science of morals or character.

Moral: Individual’s actions as being right or wrong, virtuous or vicious, or good or bad in relation to actions, intentions, or character of responsible people carrying out the deed.

Value: Something that has worth to you. Very relative. Two types of values are nonmoral (things, places, events) and moral values (fair play). Moral values are necessary for a society to thrive, for a people to live, and for a person to flourish. Read more »

Audio includes an explanation of Kohlberg's theory. By Brian Sather for History, Philosophy, and Ethics of Sport class at Eastern Oregon University, October 22, 2009 Read more »

Stimulants: Drugs that increase activity of the central nervous system. Include caffeine, ephedrine, and other amphetamines. Increase alertness, reduce fatigue, increase aggressiveness, increase performance in aerobic activities. Also may create loss of judgement. Caffeine will dehydrate athlete.

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: Derivatives of male sex hormone testosterone.

Human growth hormone (HGH): Helps body recover quickly. Serious side effects include enlargement of peripheral body parts, larger physical stature, enlargement of heart.

EPO: Increases capacity of blood to carry oxygen.

Brake drugs: Female gymnasts use to retard growth.

Nutritional aids: Creatine, protein. Read more »

Positives of technological advances

1. Equipment provides opportunities for physically challenged that previously did not exist. E.g. wheelchairs, skis for paraplegics.
2. Enhanced enjoyment of the experience due to increase success in the activity: Easier to hit the tennis ball for beginning player.
3. Increase comfort in the activity: Shocks on mountain bike, high speed quads on ski slope
4. More enjoyment for spectators: Cameras on cables get closer to the action. More home runs in baseball. More sports channels and pay-per-view events. Internet provides easy access to sporting information.

Negatives of technological advances

Multi-cultural: Addressed in discussion of racism in sport.

Gender: Addressed in discussion on gender and sport.

Age: Age discrimination act (in United States) protects persons over 40.

Disability: The Rehabilitation Act (1973) Section 504 protects handicapped from being excluded solely by reason of their handicap from participation in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Public Law 94-142 in 1975 assures handicapped receive free appropriate education.

Learning differences: Kinesthetic

International culture

Religious: Prayer is not allowed in public schools.

Sexual preference: Up to states.

Notes from the book Kohn, A (1986). No Contest: The Case Against Competition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Alfie Kohn: “Life has become an endless succession of contests.” Is life competitive or cooperative? Competition is found in family, work, play, school.

Competition is comparison of individuals but only one can be the best. Is it right to measure yourself against someone? Includes MEGA (mutually exclusive goal attainment)

Types of competition

Evaluation of playing well and playing poorly (Fraleigh, 1984)

1. Executing motor skills
2. Physiological and psychological effort demands
3. Appropriate tactics and strategy

Criterion for playing well and playing poorly

1. Best performance ever: Cannot be met by everyone
2. Quality of opponents performance: May not play best. Conserve energy.
3. Reasonable expectancy of highest quality of play based on prior performance: Consistent maximum demands.

Rank the following scenarios in order of importance. Identify process and product orientation. Logical is

There are several definitions of competition, and many misconceptions about what "competition" is, so it is very important to dialog about the issue of competition and cooperation within the context of an appropriate definition. Without agreement on semantics, the discussion will degrade because of the fallacy of equivocation. Read more »

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In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) allowed for "supplements" to be sold without requiring much scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration. It was mainly a decision promoted by business-minded politicians. After that, the GNC-type stores came to prominence as lucrative businesses. In turn, marketing and sale of products over the internet proliferated too. Read more »