Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / MLB Drug Scandal Prompts Bigger Question: Why are Guys Still Cheating?

MLB Drug Scandal Prompts Bigger Question: Why are Guys Still Cheating?

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Jun 06, 2013

No Comments

130212143146-alex-rodriguez1-single-image-cut

Major League Baseball is probably going to suspend a number of high profile players for their connection to the Biogenesis clinic in Miami, including New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.  The players are accused of using steroids and other banned performance enhancement supplements, prompting the important sport psychology question about why so many athletes continue to cheat in sports – even with suspensions, fines, and public humiliation hanging in the balance (not to mention individual morality concerns).  MLB is not the only place where athletes continue to cheat, as it is not uncommon to read about athletes from literally all sports involved in sport performance cheating.

Even with all the increased attention toward sports cheating (especially steroid usage), countless athletes continue to roll the dice and risk their professional athletic careers.  Seemingly the integrity factor of playing fair is an idea of the past, as it now appears that increasingly more athletes are doing almost whatever they can in order to increase size, strength, speed, and recovery time from injury.  And it also seems that no matter what dangers and consequences are risked by cheating, many athletes will still just that – cheat.

So why are athletes cheating?  Some of the bigger reasons that athletes have shared with me over the years include:

  • Ego.  Some athletes simply become intoxicated with the size and strength gains associated with steroids, and enjoy the vanity benefits as well.  Some hit a ball longer, others throw a pitch harder, and some are able to run faster.  These advances, viewed by some, are well worth the risk of cheating.
  • Need to keep up.  There is a feeling in elite-level sports that you need to cheat in order to simply keep up with the competition.  Mnay athletes have gone on record saying this over the years, and with all the players caught using in MLB there is certainly a degree of validity to this argument.
  • No fear of getting caught.  While the consequences associated with getting caught for cheating are great, many players still feel as though the odds of them being tested are slim, and that the drugs they use are undetectable by the testing procedures.
  • Group dynamics.  Similar to the need to keep up with the competition, some athletes use because they see other teammates using and it becomes almost “normal” to do what the others are doing.

Of course, these are only a few of the reasons why athletes decide to cheat.  Some athletes have told me that they don’t feel the drugs should be banned, while others have minimized the risks associated and convinced themselves that the drugs they are using are harmless.  Regardless of the reason(s), it is important that we continue to work hard and preserve the integrity of sports, especially for player safety and maintaining a fairness in sport competition.

www.drstankovich.com

Check out our digital line of sport performance products only at Advanced Human Performance Systems!

 

 

baseball, braun, cheating, league, major, psychology, rodriguez, sport, steroids

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Latest Blog Posts

  • March 1, 2021 Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • February 16, 2021 Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • February 10, 2021 Is Mark Cuban’s Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • February 4, 2021 Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • February 1, 2021 Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

Parent Summer Youth Sport Checklist

NEXT POST

Dr. Stankovich Featured on ESPN’s Outside the Lines

Category

Amateur , Athletes , Athletic Counseling , Coaching , College , Leadership and Role Modeling , Mental Toughness , Off Field Issues , Performance Enhancement , Prep , Pro , Pro and College Sports , Social Responsibility , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sport Sociology , Sports Administrators , Sports Culture and Society , Sports Leadership , Sports Parenting , Sports Performance Science , Training and Development , Uncategorized , Youth and Interscholastic Sports , Youth Sports

Tags

baseball, braun, cheating, league, major, psychology, rodriguez, sport, steroids

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • Is Mark Cuban's Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • Parent Sports Pressure Can Leave Kids with Overwhelming Expectations
  • Overcome Adversity by Using this Important Mental Toughness Strategy
  • Challenges Endure for Student Athletes Managing Pandemic Stress & Related Concerns
  • Maximize the Strength of Your Team through Care, Concern, & Compassion
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2021 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓