You are a young athlete representing India at an international-level competition. During the competition, you witness a few senior athletes injecting something using a syringe, in private. When you approach them, they explain that it is a performance enhancing drug, which is very common in such competitions and you should take the same as well. You are in fear and decide to approach the coach to discuss the event you witnessed. However, you get to know that the athletes are taking the drug at the advice of the coach himself. (a) What would you do in this scenario? Discuss the options available to you and chart your course of action. (b) Why do you think use of unfair means to enhance performance is common in competitive sporting event? How can this practice be minimized?

(1) I as young athlete : (A) Private interest vs. adherence to laws and ethics of game

(B) Be just by disclosing the case to organizer or follow blind nationalism by letting team compete unfairly.

(2) Other Athletes of our team → using moral corruption and presenting unethical means to them as model of success.

(3) Athletes of other team → Injustice and unfair because they have put hard work.

(4) Coach → Ignorance of his duties and promotion of illegal means.

(5) Event organizer

(6) Society at large

Possible actions

(1) Remain silent Merits → Would help my team to win and appreciation for nation.

Demerits → would promote such unfair action in sports and injustice to other athletes.

(2) Take drugs on senior's advice

Merit → would enhance my performance and help me to win and earn prestige.

Demerit → Blow to my conscience and sense of justice. Will erode self peace. Injustice to fellow athletes.

(3) Persuade coach & team member to not take drugs

Merit → would help in restoring ethics of and spirit of healthy competition.

• adherence to moral duty.

Demerit → Possible erosion of personal relationship with team

• may jeopardize my sports career.

My Action → I would try my best to persuade my coach and team members from doing so. And report themselves the case of drug injection and withdraw from competition. It would help in preserving the prestige of my country and defend from shame at international level.

But if they go against my request, my action would be report the incident to sports authorities at home and request them to take action in order to protect nation's pride and help upkeep the spirit of fair competition.

At last, if nothing works, I will report it to organisers of event. It may erode the nation's pride and bring me public ridicule at home, but games are designed to promote harmony and bring out best of each athlete. Injustice to other hardworking athletes is against constitutional principle of fraternity and justice.

Reasons for increasing cases -

(1) Promotion and acceptance by home authorities. (2) games have become the platform of showcasing nation's superiority, soft diplomacy and matter of pride rather than individual talent and fraternity. (3) With political and diplomatic interference unfair means to win have crept in. (4) Huge pressure on athletes to perform as their career is linked to performance.