Good Sport, Chap 1-3

Housekeeping

• we will catch up to syllabus soon
• I will make readings from Ethics in Sport available in case you didn't bring home (this afternoon)

Good Sport

Who is Thomas Murray?

• philosopher, bioethicist
• served on panels that govern elite sport like the Olympics
• has chaired Ethical Issues Review Panel at the World Anti-Doping Agency
• member of IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal

How elite sport should operate

• should doping be allowed?
• what kinds of new equipment should be permitted?
• when should someone compete in the Paralympics, not the Olympics?
• when should men and women compete separately?
• should intersex and trans women compete in the women's category?

Murray's views plus contrasting views in other articles

But wait...elite sport isn't operating at all

• Tokyo Olympics postponed, Wimbledon postponed
• Tour de France...discussing holding without spectators
• Topic: sports without live spectators
• Question: can sports have their full "meaning and value" if there are no live spectators?
• Is there a presentation group that would like to explore this topic?
• Let me know by email after class (by 5 pm)
• I will suggest some ways to pursue philosophically

Good Sport, Chap. 1: The Slippery Slope to Doping

Types of doping that are prohibited

World anti-doping agency (WADA)  list

• always prohibited
• prohibited during competition
• prohibited only by specific sports 

Lance Armstrong

• The Armstrong Lie is a good documentary that tells the whole story well.  Watch for free here (if you have time): The Armstrong Lie Watch online full movie 
• The Oprah Interview:

Lance's doping methods

1.  EPO (erythropoietin)

• goal: increase red blood cells that carry oxygen to muscles
• hematocrit=percentage of cell volume composed of red blood cells. Athlete wants 50% or better.
• method: take EPO pills.  Same drug used for people with many diseases (EPOGEN) 

2. Blood-transfusions 

• goal: increase number of red blood cells that carry oxygen to muscles 
• one method: A. remove blood during event, which stimulates natural hormone EPO (erythropoietin) to increase red blood cell production; B. transfuse blood back in 

***Natural alternatives to 1 and 2***

• genetic variation--you happen to have a super high hematocrit!
• training at high altitude--the oxygen deprivation causes the body to create more red blood cells
• hypoxic air machine and tent -- same effect without the trip to Colorado

3. Testosterone

• goal: bigger muscles, more strength
• method: synthetic androgens that increase muscle mass ("anabolic steroids") or natural testosterone

4. Other

• human growth hormone
• diuretics

Testing to prevent doping: how often, how intrusive?

• The Armstrong Lie: 59:40--1:05
• all the time, very intrusive

Good Sport Chap. 2: What Sport Values

What we value in sport: natural talent, dedication (in training), courage (during competition). 

p. 15

p. 21

p. 33

Foundation for all the arguments in the book

• Permitted = consistent with TDC associated with a sport
• Prohibited = inconsistent with TDC associated with a sport

Murray's approach is...

1. Internalist or Externalist?
2. If Externalist, which kind? (Virtue Ethics, Utilitarian, Kantian)
3. If Internalist, which kind? (Formalist, Conventionalist, Broad Internalist)

Murray's Argument Against Doping (reconstructed)

1. What’s valuable in sport is natural talent, dedication, and courage.
2. As much as possible, what’s valuable in sport should determine who wins and loses.
3. When athletes dope, doping can determine who wins and loses instead of natural talent, dedication, and courage. THEREFORE,
4. Doping should be prohibited.

Eero Mantyranta

• gold medalist with natural 68% hematocrit

Someone could argue:

1. Mantyranta's didn't earn the high hematocrit that helped him win gold medals in skiing.
2. If unearned advantages were unfair, Mantyranta wouldn't be entitled to his gold medals.
3. But he was entitled to his gold medals.
4. So unearned advantages are not unfair.
5. The only possible objection to Armstrong's doping is that it gave him unearned advantages.  THEREFORE
6. Armstrong was also entitled to his wins.

Murray's reply is....

• Which premise does he reject? (just one!)
• Why does he object?
• More on this next time, because next authors (Foddy and Savulescu) also discuss Mantyranta.

Good Sport Chap 3: Rules and Meanings

Murray: this is also the right framework for equipment and rules issues

p. 38

How to make arguments about equipment or rule changes

1. Sport X values this set of natural talents plus dedication and courage: _____. 
2. Equipment or rule change Y would/wouldn’t change the set of natural talents needed for sport X. THEREFORE, 
3. Equipment or rule Y should be prohibited/permitted.

Some equipment Murray discusses--

1. Klapskates, p. 40

What are they??? (follow link)

2. Pole vaulting technology, p. 40

• Does the new equipment draw on the same talents?

3. Swimsuits, p. 43

A new equipment issue--

Nike vaporfly shoes