In many professional sports, it is becoming commonplace for athletes to abuse prohibited substances to boost their overall performance. This essay will discuss how stiff competition and lax testing systems are the main causes of this problem, and the most suitable solutions are imposing heavier punishments on violators and revamping testing facilities.
The main cause of this problem is the fierce competition that exists in any sport. In other words, many professional athletes feel that they have to take substances like steroids to give themselves an advantage over other strong opponents. Another reason is the lack of strictness in testing procedures. Many athletes who take advantage of banned substances can still get off scot-free due to the holes in testing systems. For example, a high-profile mixed martial artist named Jon John, who is notorious for using PEDs, described how easy it was to get away with cheating in an interview in 2015.
A viable solution is to heavily punish lawbreakers. If sports clubs and establishments raise the fine for using banned substances, many athletes will think twice before attempting to cheat. Another way to deal with this issue is to upgrade testing amenities. This will eradicate any holes existing in the system and ensure that the test result is highly accurate. For instance, after the UFC had made major investments to provide their staff with the latest testing equipment, many fighters in their organization got caught.
In conclusion, strong competition and ineffective testing systems are the main causes of this problem, and the most suitable solutions are enforcing harsher punishments on violators and reforming testing facilities.