Unit 7 Final Assignment Paper and Powerpoint

As I have noted in my earlier posts, the use of PEDs by superstar professional athletes is an endemic ethical challenge that has lowered our faith in sports' integrity and had a significant adverse impact on social welfare. Thanks to the overarching ''winner bias phenomenon'' that has significantly clouded the athletes' judgment, they continue to use these drugs and substances to emerge the winners in competitions without realizing the potential harm their behavior poses to sports, society, and themselves (Whitman, 2007). We live in an age where athletes pursue success at all costs without considering the means. Fortunately, sports administrators and managers can help solve the problem by integrating faith and a Christian worldview in their practice. Lawrence Ressler (2008) argues in her journal article, The Integration of Athletics and Faith, that faith and ‘‘…Christian worldview should impact how one understands competition, coaching philosophy, the concept of team membership and the use of abilities’’ and ‘‘…the purpose and meaning of sports’’. If we realize such integration, we can successfully fight PEDs' usage amongst athletes because of a faith-based and Christian worldview values trust, fairness, humility, and integrity in all kinds of competition.

The Bible contains several verses relevant to faith, integrity, humility, honor, and fairness in all forms of competition. For instance, in Galatians 5: 19-20, the Bible states some undesirable traits that Christians must avoid, including enmity, strife, jealousy, rivalries, dissensions, and divisions. PEDs usage directly leads to these outcomes. The Bible also urges us to consider others' interests in the same way that we consider ours. In Philippians 2: 3-4, the Bible states that ‘‘[d]o nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility considers others as more important than you. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others’’. Lying in a competition is also prohibited in James 3: 14- 15, which states that ''[b]ut if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, do not cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic''.

Furthermore, even for those who get away with cheating and earn all the fame, enormous rewards, and attention, the Bible states that such are vanity and that we can only cheat men, not God. The Bible says that ''…[y]ou are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God (Luke 16:15-16).

Now, what can sports administrators and managers do to contain the vice? The Bible has a solution. Romans 12: 2 warns us against copying the world's customs and urges us to ''…let God transform [us] into a new person by changing the way [we] think''. It continues to state that we should ''…become conceited, provoking and envying [of] each other'' (Gal. 5: 26). By incorporating faith and Christian teaching in athletes, I will implement and enforce policies against the ethical issue and lead by example. Through workshops and mentorship programs, I would explain to the athletes that the primary end of their life and competitions is to know God and Jesus Christ as the eternal life (John 12:2) rather than the lure of winning and the accompanying fame, riches, power.

Finally, PEDs have several adverse healthcare implications on the body. Many athletes who have used them often live to narrate heartbreaking stories about how these substances affected their lives (USADA, 2020). However, God prohibits anyone from taking any drug or substance that is harmful to their body. For instance, the Bible states that ''[d]o you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him’’ (I Cor. 3:16-17). I will inform them that even if they use these drugs and get away with it in this world, God will ultimately punish them for harming His temple.

References Ressler, L. E. (2008, Spring). The Integration of Athletics and Faith. Direction, 37(1), 91–102. https://directionjournal.org/37/1/integration-of-athletics-and-faith.html USADA. (2020). Effects of Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from USADA.com: https://www.usada.org/athletes/substances/effects-of-performance-enhancing-drugs/ Whitman, J. H. (2007, November 12). Winning At All Costs: Using Law & Economics To Determine The Proper Role Of Government In Regulating The Use Of Performance-Enhancing Drugs In Professional Sports. University of Illinois Law Review, 2008.