Is It Fair To Punish Athletes Who Use Steroids?
In the last few years there have been a number of athletes, especially in the game of baseball, who have been accused of using steroids to enhance their performance. Sometimes it is not easy to prove that an athlete has used steroids, but there have been quite a few professional baseball players who have admitted to using these substances. A few names that come to mind include Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Jason Giambi. Some, like Rafael Palmeiro, have publicly denied any use of steroids (in front of Congress, no less) only to have incriminating evidence revealed later on. Is it fair to criticize these athletes, or are they simply struggling to meet the rigorous demands of their profession? It may be tempting to overlook these mistakes when you have looked up to these players for years. However, because these athletes have corrupted the integrity of the game and, more importantly, are influencing young athletes to put their health at risk, we shouldn’t be so sympathetic when they are
