For the athletes involved, it’s a lifestyle. For Vaughters’ it’s a passion. Not every athlete is born with the same incredible genetic coding, and that’s what makes the competition beautiful. It’s a combination of “Wow, how do they do it?” and “Look at that dedication!” It’s not a competition of who can obtain the best drugs, as Don Hooton says: “‘Sports is about fair play. It’s honor. It’s integrity. It’s hard work. It’s you and me going up against each other and competing. Not seeing who can get [the] next best drug that’s undetectable’” (Forgrave 556).
Allowing athletes to dope will take the awe away from spectators and crush the dreams of young competitors. It will change sports from a competition of hard work, dedication, and talent into a competition of finances, pharmaceuticals, and personal agendas. Performance-enhancing drugs will simply award the trophy to the highest bidder — and that is definitely against the spirit of