Written by In the latest Culture in Sports podcast, Mike and Wes discuss all things sporting ethics with Bioethics expert and author Art Caplan. Having suffered from Polio as a young person, Art became interested in the field of medical science and physiotherapy before his sporting experiences had developed. As a young adult, Art played semi-pro football at Jonkers in New York. During this time, he witnessed a culture of poor behavior and a lack of commitment to the welfare of the athletes. From this he developed his interest in ethics in sport.
The warning in this discussion is that athletes should not be put in a position of choosing what to agree to as they will invariably comply with more than they should for the joy and honor of making it to the top of their field. In this way they are invariably taken advantage of my unscrupulous coaches wanting more from them for less. An established ethical framework that is designed to protect and educate the athlete will enable them to learn how to manage their contracts and their careers without risking complying with an unethical choice. His example about the team doctor being hired by management is pertinent. The team doctor is working in the interest of the people who hired them and not the athletes themselves, so the player should be encouraged to look after their health and see their own doctor rather than have a ‘all-or-nothing’ martyr attitude. Sadly they are numerous examples of team doctors or coaches convincing athletes to use performance-enhancing substances that they shouldn’t.
Art’s discussion on modern medical and scientific discoveries that impact on sport, highlights the ingenious techniques that can be misapplied in the sporting arena to try to gain advantage. Genetic engineering, doping, and the potential development of cloning all carry massive ethical concerns, and these should be considered.
Ethics plays a large part in the athlete’s standing as role model for young fans. Being in a position of influence is a massive responsibility as young people will watch and emulate their favorite athlete’s behavior. Ultimately an athlete that is taught how to navigate their career ethically, will be able to pass on this positive attitude to others. This is an excellent example of contributing to a healthy and cohesive sporting culture.