{"id":34479,"date":"2022-08-05T04:38:59","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T04:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/?p=34479"},"modified":"2022-08-05T04:38:59","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T04:38:59","slug":"is-it-ethical-to-allow-soldiers-to-take-performance-enhancing-drugs-such-as-steroids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/05\/is-it-ethical-to-allow-soldiers-to-take-performance-enhancing-drugs-such-as-steroids\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it ethical to allow soldiers to take performance enhancing drugs such as steroids?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There\u2019s a long history and growing evidence base<\/a> that the use of performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic-androgenic steroids to build muscle mass and strength is common in the armed forces, including in Australia.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t surprising considering the pressures soldiers face to complete missions successfully, achieve elite levels of fitness, and deal with the physical and mental stresses of their profession.<\/p>\n

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is also constantly looking for ways to amplify the performance of soldiers, which includes the consideration of technologies<\/a> both \u201cin\u201d (such as drugs) and \u201con\u201d (for example exoskeletons) soldiers.<\/p>\n

In 2016, the Department of Defence also created the Human Performance Research Network<\/a>, which is focused on enhancing the physical and cognitive performance of military personnel.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the ADF has adopted<\/a> parts of the World Anti-Doping Code \u2013 a code developed to govern drug use in sport \u2013 to manage the governance of human enhancing drugs within the military. Under the code, using steroids isn\u2019t allowed.<\/p>\n

But considering the military is constantly looking for means to create \u201csuper soldiers\u201d, should we consider allowing the use of steroids and other enhancement drugs?<\/p>\n

The answer to this question isn\u2019t clear cut. But there\u2019s no reason to believe the use of enhancement drugs such as steroids by soldiers is, in and of itself, unethical.<\/p>\n

Are the ethics of using steroids on the battlefield the same as those in sport?<\/h2>\n

In sport, critics of drug use are concerned with the integrity of the contest. Many consider a level playing field in sport to be an essential element of the fairness of a contest.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a fundamental difference of purpose between a drug policy designed to protect the integrity of sport and one to protect the integrity of armed forces.<\/p>\n

The thought that one side in a battle shouldn\u2019t employ technologies unavailable to their opponents is irrelevant to the conduct of war.<\/p>\n