Public Speaking
In public speaking we had to write a speech, that we presented on Friday the 6th of October. I must say I was very nervous before I entered the room, but I had prepared in advanced so I knew that I was going to be ok. I had spent the last few weeks writing and editing it. The speech is written below for you to read.
Most athletes argue their case for why they dope by saying everyone else is doing it. Doping in sport is basically using illegal drugs or illegal amounts of legal drugs to enhance the performance of an athlete. Some sports that are hugely affected by doping are cycling, athletics, American football and even tennis. In American football some players use steroids to become bigger and stronger, but in cycling the cyclists use performing enhancing drugs that are called anabolic steroids. These drugs are unlike normal steroid, they are only effective for a short period of time because they increase red blood cell production. This allows the athlete's muscles to work more efficiently because they have more oxygen. These performing enhancing drugs are currently illegal, but the idea of legalise them is becoming more popular due to the amount of athletes using them. I don't know why they would even think of legalising these drugs and instead they should just come up with more severe punishments. Athletes say that they dope because everyone else is doing it, and so that they can compete.
I have already talked about why athletes dope and what the drugs enhance while they are performing their sport and so I will now talk about two athletes who have been caught doping in their area of sport. Both athletes were hugely successful in their sports. The first athlete is Tyson Gay. Tyson Gay was an American sprinter who took part in the 2012 Olympics in London. During these Olympics he ran in the 4 by 100m relay, his team won silver in this relay but the next year Gay failed three drug tests in quick succession which led to the team’s Olympic medals being taken away from them. Due to his actions he served a one year suspension. I feel like Tyson Gay got off easy, the Olympics is one of the biggest if the biggest sporting events in the world and if athletes are just going to dope their way through it, it will eventually ruin this wonderful event that only happens every four years. Athletes will keep doping if these punishments are not strengthened.
The second athlete I will talk about is Maria Sharapova, she got a more severe punishment due to her doping allegations. Maria Sharapova is a world renowned tennis player who has won five grand slam titles and a silver medal in the London Olympics. During the Australian Open in January of 2016 she tested positive for the recently banned drug, Meldonium. Sharapova claimed that she was prescribed Meldonium by her doctor in 2006 to deal with her health issues and a family history of diabetes, but the International Tennis Federation found emails from her doctor mr Skalny, who had been treating her since 2004, when she was only seventeen this continued until 2012. Dr Skalny said and I quote “during games of special importance you can increase your Meldonium to 3-4 pills, one hour before matches.” The International Tennis Federation banned her for two years and her sponsors Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche all either suspended their relationship with her or walked away from her altogether. Tennis was one of the sports in my mind where doping wasn't really something they did. I said the same for Tyson Gay’s punishment and i will say it for for Sharapova’s, she deserved a more severe punishment. In my mind the punishment that should have been given to both these athletes is a lifetime ban from the sport, it may sound slightly unfair but it will stop other athletes from doping. In conclusion I feel that it is both the athletes faults for doping but also the doping committees for not taking a more serious approach on the matter.
After the speech, the lady asked me questions about where I got my information. This modules has really helped me with my public speaking and also I now feel a lot more confident about speaking. We were given our grade on Monday the 9th of October and I was very happy to have received 90%.
Most athletes argue their case for why they dope by saying everyone else is doing it. Doping in sport is basically using illegal drugs or illegal amounts of legal drugs to enhance the performance of an athlete. Some sports that are hugely affected by doping are cycling, athletics, American football and even tennis. In American football some players use steroids to become bigger and stronger, but in cycling the cyclists use performing enhancing drugs that are called anabolic steroids. These drugs are unlike normal steroid, they are only effective for a short period of time because they increase red blood cell production. This allows the athlete's muscles to work more efficiently because they have more oxygen. These performing enhancing drugs are currently illegal, but the idea of legalise them is becoming more popular due to the amount of athletes using them. I don't know why they would even think of legalising these drugs and instead they should just come up with more severe punishments. Athletes say that they dope because everyone else is doing it, and so that they can compete.
I have already talked about why athletes dope and what the drugs enhance while they are performing their sport and so I will now talk about two athletes who have been caught doping in their area of sport. Both athletes were hugely successful in their sports. The first athlete is Tyson Gay. Tyson Gay was an American sprinter who took part in the 2012 Olympics in London. During these Olympics he ran in the 4 by 100m relay, his team won silver in this relay but the next year Gay failed three drug tests in quick succession which led to the team’s Olympic medals being taken away from them. Due to his actions he served a one year suspension. I feel like Tyson Gay got off easy, the Olympics is one of the biggest if the biggest sporting events in the world and if athletes are just going to dope their way through it, it will eventually ruin this wonderful event that only happens every four years. Athletes will keep doping if these punishments are not strengthened.
The second athlete I will talk about is Maria Sharapova, she got a more severe punishment due to her doping allegations. Maria Sharapova is a world renowned tennis player who has won five grand slam titles and a silver medal in the London Olympics. During the Australian Open in January of 2016 she tested positive for the recently banned drug, Meldonium. Sharapova claimed that she was prescribed Meldonium by her doctor in 2006 to deal with her health issues and a family history of diabetes, but the International Tennis Federation found emails from her doctor mr Skalny, who had been treating her since 2004, when she was only seventeen this continued until 2012. Dr Skalny said and I quote “during games of special importance you can increase your Meldonium to 3-4 pills, one hour before matches.” The International Tennis Federation banned her for two years and her sponsors Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche all either suspended their relationship with her or walked away from her altogether. Tennis was one of the sports in my mind where doping wasn't really something they did. I said the same for Tyson Gay’s punishment and i will say it for for Sharapova’s, she deserved a more severe punishment. In my mind the punishment that should have been given to both these athletes is a lifetime ban from the sport, it may sound slightly unfair but it will stop other athletes from doping. In conclusion I feel that it is both the athletes faults for doping but also the doping committees for not taking a more serious approach on the matter.
After the speech, the lady asked me questions about where I got my information. This modules has really helped me with my public speaking and also I now feel a lot more confident about speaking. We were given our grade on Monday the 9th of October and I was very happy to have received 90%.