What IS a performance enhancer?
 

The thread title is a bit misleading. My question is something I heard on The David Stein show (on at like 2AM on Sporting News Radio [for good reason, it's terrible]). Do you consider cortisone a performance enhancer? Cortisone is always used to alleviate pain and sometimes even allow players to get out there and play. I found it an interesting question, because you are pumping steroids into your joints to make it so a player can play. What do you think?

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

You could probably argue that a lot of things are performance enhancers. Caffeine keeps you awake so you could play a day game after an extra inning night game, for example. Well, maybe enhancer isn't the best word then.

Anyhow, moving this to the parking lot.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

Viagra................

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

To me, an "enhancer" allows you to play [U]better[/U]. Cortisone just allows you to [U]play[/U] when you're hurt. It doesn't give you an advantage, it just helps you get out there.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

Beer!!!!

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

[QUOTE=Schneed10;337171]To me, an "enhancer" allows you to play [U]better[/U]. Cortisone just allows you to [U]play[/U] when you're hurt. It doesn't give you an advantage, it just helps you get out there.[/QUOTE]

I see where you're going with that, but a guy's performance is expected to decline if he is injured. So, (just playing devil's advocate here) by your logic, if there were some sort of anti-aging drug, it would not be a performance enhancer because it wouldn't enhance your performance, it would only keep you playing at a certain level for the time that you take the drug.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

[quote=jdlea;337181]I see where you're going with that, but a guy's performance is expected to decline if he is injured. So, (just playing devil's advocate here) by your logic, if there were some sort of anti-aging drug, it would not be a performance enhancer because it wouldn't enhance your performance, it would only keep you playing at a certain level for the time that you take the drug.[/quote]

I see a difference though. Cortisone is an accepted form of medical treatment for the general population; a pain medication. A 54 year old coworker of mine just got a shot of it in her shoulder joint.

I've got no problems with players taking things that would be prescribed to the general public in the same medical situations.

I don't see doctors ever prescribing regular people with a fountain-of-youth pill, but if they did, then you'd have to allow the athletes to do it as well.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

[QUOTE=Schneed10;337187]I see a difference though. Cortisone is an accepted form of medical treatment for the general population; a pain medication. A 54 year old coworker of mine just got a shot of it in her shoulder joint.

I've got no problems with players taking things that would be prescribed to the general public in the same medical situations.

I don't see doctors ever prescribing regular people with a fountain-of-youth pill, but if they did, then you'd have to allow the athletes to do it as well.[/QUOTE]

Like I said, I was just playing devil's advocate and I can definitely see your point.

Also, some people would argue that HGH is regularly prescribed by doctors and it is an acceptable form of medical treatment. The problem with that is, if it is used without a prescription, it is then an illegal drug.

[I]EDIT: Added the last sentence[/I]

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

Ther is allot of stuff that is either perscribed or over the counter which is ban is most sports.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

[QUOTE=firstdown;337209]Ther is allot of stuff that is either perscribed or over the counter which is ban is most sports.[/QUOTE]

A lot of it is also permitted if you can produce a record stating that you have been diagnosed with an illness where the expected form of treatment would be that drug.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

Well apparently weed is...just ask Ricky Williams. LOL.


So what is a performance enhancer? Would taking steriods to play like you did when you were 26 at the age of 36 count? It wouldn't enhance, it would be what you used to be able to do?
So I guess I would say, anything that allows the abnormal increase in "talent" that wouldn't normally be there had it not been for the drug.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

cortisone enables one to play in situations where maybe they wouldn't be able to without it. in a way it enhances performance. without it would be no performance

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

[quote=jsarno;337223]Well apparently weed is...just ask Ricky Williams. LOL.


So what is a performance enhancer? Would taking steriods to play like you did when you were 26 at the age of 36 count? It wouldn't enhance, it would be what you used to be able to do?
So I guess I would say, anything that allows the abnormal increase in "talent" that wouldn't normally be there had it not been for the drug.[/quote]

I would simply define it as any drug not prescribed by a physician for medical purposes (ie, a cortisone shot for pain), that also is clinically shown to enhance your ability to play sports effectively.

Cortisone is not an enhancer, it's a legit medicine for people with sore knees.

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

[quote=dmek25;337226]cortisone enables one to play in situations where maybe they wouldn't be able to without it. in a way it enhances performance. without it would be no performance[/quote]

Yes but your doctor would give Joe Blow a cortisone shot so that he could go to work and do his 9-5 desk job. Is that a performance enhancer? If so, then you must not think this kind of performance enhancing drug is a bad thing.

Why can't a player have it?

Re: What IS a performance enhancer?
 

[QUOTE=dmek25;337226]cortisone enables one to play in situations where maybe they wouldn't be able to without it. in a way it enhances performance. without it would be no performance[/QUOTE]

I disagree...that's a pain killer. So should Ibruprophen be illegal too? Tylenol?