some specimens that come backpositive are insulting and offensive to other athletes, whether being teammatesor rival players. Some teammates might possibly be embarrassed to be part of ateam where players are involved in illegal activities, such as the use of drugsand steroids. When an athlete from a certain team or school has a test thatcomes back positive, then those athletes who play by the rules and havenegative tests feel as though everyone from that particular organization has alabel as a drug abuser. For example, Lawrence Taylor, a football player for theNew York Giants was recently suspended because of drug abuse. Most recentinterviews showed his former and current friends having to defend the entireGiant franchisee and the NFLs football program because of Taylors drug use. Also, those opposed to drug testing also believe that it makes drug-free peoplefeel degraded due to the use of drugs taken by their teammates, coaches, andfriends (Mohun, 1998).Although there are many legitimate reasons why people would not wantdrug testing to occur, the positive reasons tend to outweigh the negatives. There are many benefits toward drug testing in athletics. One benefit of drugtesting is that athletes may have an unfair advantage over other athletes whoare not on drugs. Testing can help restore an athletes faith in the fairness ofsports competition. Although testing does not always stop suspicions orcheating, it does reduce illegal behavior. Finally testing procedures putathletes on notice: if you cheat to win you might get caught and then you willlose it all (Galas, 1997, p.81). Drug testing can allow those who test positive tobe given the help they need to remain drug-free. Another unfair advantage is that those who take steroids have a physicaledge over the athletes who do not. The drug using athletes are stronger thanmost of the athletes who do not use steroids, because...as aperformance-enhancing drug, anabolic steroids have ...
