Supplements used to help athletes train hard
There is no philosophical inconsistency here; anabolic steroids alter hormonal activity, whereas whey proteins are essentially food supplements. The two substances enhance performance, yet they are given different treatment duly because anabolic steroids are drugs, whereas whey proteins are food supplements.
The criticism of anabolic steroids is warranted. Citing their side effects, psychological risks posed, and potential health hazards like high blood pressure and heart failure that may result from their usage, medical experts agree it should be banned. Criticism on anabolic steroids also stems from the fact that they unethically improve the performance of sportspersons, thus fraudulently handing them an advantage over opponents. As such, sportspeople detected to have used these steroids are deemed to be in contravention of fair play and doping rules, thus going against the spirit of sport.
Whey proteins are supplements used to help athletes train hard. There are divisions as to whether or not whey proteins as just beneficial protein supplementations or they carry adverse side effects, a key reason they are less disapproved. Despite some experts making a case for the inclusion of whey protein supplements as part of regular diets, they tend to be discouraged in the world of competitive sport. The bottom-line though, is that the use of whey proteins does not amount to doping as long as nothing else is added onto the supplement.
The primary criterion that should be looked into when assessing whether a substance should be banned or not is the potential harm caused to the athlete. The other condition that should be met by a substance for it to be given a clean bill of health is the potential harm the substance is likely to cause on the sportsperson that does not use it. The other competitors should not be affected negatively by one sportsperson’s decision to use a performance-enhancing substance.