IS OXYGEN A STEROID?

Here’s an interesting point from a reader:

At a most simplistic level much of the opposition to steroid use is based on the ingestion of artificial ‘substances’ that boost performance without there being a relationship to the amount of work or level of talent that an individual athlete has. This has the perceived effect of decoupling the characteristics of the individual from that individual’s performance. This line of arguing says that performance should be based on intrinsic rather than extrinsic factors. Well, how do you classify this one? Nike puts athletes in a house with reduced oxygen levels so that the body builds up its oxygen use/carrying capacity as a response. This allows them to ‘live’ in a house at a virtual high altitude and train at low altitude. In this case, the athlete’s performance is being boosted by a substance that is extrinsic to their individual characteristics (and in fact is ‘ingested’ in manner analogous to steroids) yet this approach is praised rather than pilloried. Is the ingestion of chemicals (yes CO2 is a chemical, albeit an abundant one) to boost performance desirable or not? You can’t have it both ways so to be consistent the anti-steroid crowd should be calling for the expulsion of most of the US long distance running team.

I tend to agree. The distinctions between what is intrinsic to performance and what is extrinsic are somewhat arbitrary. Take even nutrition. If someone who had poor childhood nutrition competes against someone who had a healthy upbringing, isn’t the contest unfair in the same way as a contest affected by unlilateral use of steroids? No, not exactly the same. But not completely different either.

EMAIL OF THE DAY: “I’m a ‘decriminalize pot’ libertarian but I don’t get the defense of Bonds and Giambi. Sure, if they stood up there like men and said we take steroids and we think they should be legal- I would respect them. But they lied repeatedly, giving the impression that they were significantly more talented than the clean players. If you want to see modern players obliterating old records just give them METAL BATS! The only reason they’re using steroids is because it’s the best way to cheat while acting like your just like everyone else.
I’m shocked by the lack of outrage (outside of sports columnists). I wish they could be banned from the league. Pete Rose betting on other teams is nothing compared to what these guys did. And remember how we treated the East German and Chinese Olympic athletes like they were Frankenstein monsters born from the evils of communism? Marion Jones is getting the benefit of the doubt because she doesn’t look like a freak of nature.
Sports’ modern era is tainted. The only reason our culture won’t admit it is because everyone’s life is so wrapped up in the accomplishments of these juiced-up overpaid athletes driven by the richest of the rich. If you take these stats and titles away from many Americans, their lives are meaningless.
I know this sounds like a ‘Democracy Now’ rant but if you’re going to appreciate the benefits of our free-market you have to condemn its failures.” More feedback on the Letters Page.