Athletes and Performance Enhancement Drugs Why do athletes revert to drug usage as a way to enhance their skill? I believe once a player subjects himself to this synthetic enhancer, it takes away the credit of calling or classifying a great player as having “natural” talent. Some athletes are blinded by the instant gratification of being on top that they will do anything to get to that point. As much as one loves what he/ she does for a living, is it valid to disgrace and erase all integrity derived from the actual skill and passion? Depending on the viewpoint, one can argue that the motive behind taking this drug can actually be considered ethical as oppose to the negativity that comes with taking the drug itself. Now I am a fair believer of being empathetic to one’s situation or circumstances, and to be fair some of the athletes mentioned in certain articles may have had a valid reason for taking performance enhancing drugs. The question that remains is what was each athlete’s true motive behind taking these drugs? Is it what the majority of society believes to be the reason of believing these drugs would truly enhance their performance? Is there some covert addiction one encounters from taking these drugs? Jose Conseco was a prominent athlete that admitted in taking steroids; according to his interview with 60 minutes, his motive was to do whatever it took in order to become the best baseball player in the world. He blatantly, admits that steroids aided in making him a better athlete. He admits in having no shame in taking this illegal drug and also no shame in providing counseling to other athletes who inquired about the use of steroids. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/05/60minutes/main761932.shtml). Manny Ramirez’s, who was also a professional baseball player, motives were stated to be because of personal health issues. (http://www.pharmacytechs.net/blog/top-10-performance-enhancing-drugs). The couple of motives mentioned above were valid reasons to each athlete. Both admitted to unashamedly to taking drugs in order to advance in life and to become a better player. Although these drugs were considered illegal, the usage according to both players was used in order to produce a more important good. In theory, William Shaw would more so not look at these two athletes’ habits as unethical due to the reasoning behind it. Their motives were to better themselves and rationally, they would do whatever it took to stay on top and better their craft. Shaw states “reason giving is essential to the nature of morality” (Arthur 40). Granted the actual action (according to society) is illegal and wrong, but the athletes’ motives were right (according to what each individual thought to be right). In hindsight, can we as a society actually accuse them of wrong if their motive was to produce something considered to be good? Leading to the next question/subject at hand, even though performance enhancing drugs are considered illegal, will there be situations to approve the usage of them if it aids in the intent of pleasing the majority? Looking at it from a Utilitarian point of view “actions are right if the intent is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number” (Arthur 66), if one’s actions were performed in an attempt to make the majority happy, then that performance wouldn’t be considered unethical. In an athlete’s defense on using illegal drugs, the pressure of being the best, trying to perform at a level to help out the team, trying to maintain the heroic image bestowed upon fans, can really drive an individual to do any and everything it takes in order to please everyone. In order to keep fans happy, winning has to be consistent, the team has to have really amazing players; if there is something medical that can aid an individual to be that idea character or key player, it is understandable why these athletes resort to these habits. To take it a step further would it be considered heroic or