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    Performance Enhancing Drugs- A Position Statement

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    By on Vern Gambetta's Blog
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    Possibly the most negative cloud in sport today is the continued specter of performance enhancing drugs. One again it is imperative to remember that sport reflects the society we live in, it would only be logical that in a society that thrives on instant gratification would have a problem with drugs. Performance enhancing drugs are a huge problem at every level of sport today. Anyone who thinks otherwise is incredibly naïve. To me there is a clear division between those who do and those who don’t. This extends to coaches and therapists. I made the choice years ago not allow my athletes to use drugs. I know coaches and administrators who take the attitude that if they do not know about it, then there is no problem. Let face facts some of the athletic icons of our society are under great suspicion. I do know that testing is not the answer. There are guys all over the US hanging around gyms that know more about drugs and how to beat the tests than the people who are doing the testing. Save the money. Education is the answer, but what kind of education? Focus on educating the coaches to understand there are no shortcuts. The scare stories about shrunken testicles do not work, the youngster or the seasoned pro just knows it won’t happen to them. The answer is pretty idealistic. Let’s make it an ethical issue. It is flat out cheating. Those athletes who are doping and those coaches who condone it are living a lie. Sure they are getting scholarships and some are making millions, so what? At the end of the day you have to live with yourself.
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    Vern Gambetta

    Vern Gambetta

    Director at Gambetta Sports Training Systems
    Vern is the Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems. He has been the a conditioning coach for several MLS teams as well as the conditioning consultant to the US Men's World Cup Soccer team. Vern is the former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. He has lectured and conducted clinics in Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe and has authored six books and over one hundred articles related to coaching and sport performance in a variety of sports. He has a BA in teaching with a coaching minor and an MA in Education with an emphasis in physical education from Stanford University.
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