Why Paralympics and Olympic Athletes Should Be Separated

1010 Words5 Pages
Name English 1010 January 21, 2014 Challenges Have you ever watched the Paralympics? Perhaps you have noticed both large and subtle differences between that and the regular Olympics. In the last century, a great debate has been sparked on whether or not impaired athletes should be able to compete alongside able-bodied individuals. For instance, having disabled contestants equipped with cheetah flex-foots compete against able-bodied contestants outfitted with no supplements, in the same sprinting competition, is like pitting a rabbit up against a turtle. The outcome of the race is likely determined before it has even begun. If we are to save both grade school and collegiate sports from evolving into a battle solely between mechanized and medically enhanced athletes, something must be done to rectify it. Because both technological and pharmacological doping provide unfair advantages to athletes, those who are enhanced by them should be in placed in separate competitive leagues to provide for a more balanced athletic atmosphere in schools. This same rule applies to athletes who may depend upon certain prescribed drugs to satisfy their biological deficiencies yet provide a competitive benefit. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, technological enhancements threaten the integrity of the sport. Even if a student already exhibits dedication and a good worth ethic, if they are under the effects of any augmentation, they should not be able to compete on the same level as a normal athlete. In interscholastic sports, if a student performed well in swimming through the use of a high-end swimsuit that allows oxygen to better flow to muscles, they might receive a scholarship to a college that would have otherwise been awarded to someone else. Athletes who perform well through the additional means of technology overshadow the efforts exerted by those who rely purely on

More about Why Paralympics and Olympic Athletes Should Be Separated

Open Document