Performance-enhancing drugs GapFill

Taking performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) can have both positive and negative effects on performers and the sport itself.

Performance-enhancing drugs: impact on the performer
Performers can increase their chance of  making friendssuccessbeing finedlosing if they take PEDs, usually due to the physiological benefits they provide. This success can lead to the increased awareness and  health implicationsfriendshipsname droppingpopularity of some performers, which can bring them financial reward from sponsors and allow some amateurs to train full time, due to the increased support. Continued successful performances can also lead to increased wealth (e.g. sponsorship and financial winnings) and increased  successdamageriskfame as a result of success, which can lead to future work (e.g.TV appearances). PEDs also have the added benefit of allowing athletes to compete with other competitors and level the playing field.

However, taking PEDs also has its limitations. The biggest disadvantage of taking PEDs is that they are considered  safecredibleacceptedcheating and immoral. The athlete could be stripped of their medals/trophies/titles if they are proven to have taken illegal substances to aid their performance. They may also incur heavy  carespartiesfinesweight if they are caught, or may even be  scarredsponsoredpaidbanned from taking part in competitions for a certain amount of time (short-term or lifetime). This in turn can damage the  reputationwealthhealthphysiology of the performer, leading to a loss of income if a sponsor pulls financial support, as companies don’t want to be associated with deviant behaviour. It is also important to note that while some PEDs have physiological benefits, many pose serious  healthwealthperformancemotor risks to the performer.

Performance-enhancing drugs: impact on the sport
As already mentioned, PEDs have a benefit on performance levels, which can lead to records being broken and an increase in media attention as a result. However, the use of PEDs leads to spectators questioning the  implausibilitywealthfamecredibility of the sport and the winners, as they no longer believe them to be true champions. The reputation of a sport can also be  damagedincreasedimprovedpositive, which could again see sponsors removing financial support.