Wk5 CER: Bioethics: performance enhancement

E1: hormones and normal testosterone

Hormones carry chemical signals through blood to cells or organs. Testosterone normally helps muscle and bone growth in both sexes. It also has reproductive roles. A normal body signal is not a promise that adding more is safe. These MedlinePlus facts explain why a drug acting like testosterone can affect more than competition.

E2: anabolic steroids and health harm

MedlinePlus describes anabolic steroids as manufactured versions of testosterone. They have medical uses, but misuse differs from prescribed treatment. The overview links misuse to problems including high blood pressure, heart attack and liver disease. It also describes effects on normal reproductive function. Use at least one of these facts in your CER. The source does not predict an individual athlete’s outcome or quantify a safe enhancement plan.

E3: therapeutic-use exemption

USADA describes a review process for athletes who need a prohibited treatment for a medical condition. Independent medical experts assess applications under the applicable standard. Considerations include medical need, suitable permitted alternatives and avoiding enhancement beyond a return to normal health. Approval is not automatic. This source describes the USADA process checked in September 2026; it does not establish a rule for every league or replace medical care.

S1: fictional enhancement-policy proposal

A fictional adult competitive league is debating whether its sport rules should permit nonmedical anabolic-steroid enhancement. A supporter values adults choosing how to train. Another argues that an openly stated permission rule is more transparent than secret rule-breaking. An opponent points to health risk. Another worries that athletes who prefer not to use drugs could feel pressured to accept that risk to remain competitive. These are proposed arguments, not survey results. No actual athlete, dose, supply method, medical history or measured performance result is given. Debate the sport rule; a league rule does not itself grant legal or medical permission.

R1: fairness-pressure reasoning

In a hypothetical race, one athlete uses a prohibited drug and wins. Another athlete believes using it is necessary to keep up. That belief could create pressure to take an unwanted health risk. Winning alone does not prove the drug caused the win, and pressure does not mean every athlete will use. Decide whether this possible pressure is a reason to ban nonmedical enhancement. Explain each step rather than calling both harms “cheating.”

C1: independent counterpoints

If you favor a ban, consider this challenge: adults already choose some sporting risks, so why deny this choice? If you favor permission, consider this challenge: one athlete’s choice can pressure rivals to accept a risk they do not want. If your rule makes an exception, ask how it would protect access to treatment without becoming an unchecked performance exception. Use the strongest actual group point when available; otherwise label one of these as a solo counterpoint.

Optional extension: treatment and recreational doping

Compare two hypothetical situations. Athlete T seeks review for a medically needed prohibited treatment. Athlete R seeks nonmedical enhancement for competition. E3 supplies the review distinction; neither person is a real case or approved applicant. Where should the ethical line sit, and who should judge it? Explain a role for medical review and sport governance. Do not fill in missing diagnoses or declare a TUE approved.

Official work and posting checks

Ask the teacher for the official Activity 1.2.1 introductory task and its required muscle-building or repair fact; keep that work separate. This original CER does not complete that task. Post the CER to the teacher-confirmed class board and retain a screenshot of your own post for the evidence packet. If access is unavailable, save your work and tell the teacher. Capture your own post after the board opens.

Hormone warmup

Explain what a hormone is and what testosterone normally does, using E1 in your own words.

Use one signal role and one normal function. No personal health information is needed.

Two arguments each way

Record two arguments for allowing nonmedical enhancement and two for banning it. Mark source facts separately from values or possible consequences.

S1 supplies all four starting arguments. Explain them; do not call a proposed benefit a measured result.

Claim, health and fairness

Take a specific side on the sport rule. Use at least one E2 MedlinePlus fact to name a health harm, then explain a distinct fairness harm using S1 or R1.

Reason through why your rule is justified even though another value loses something. Health harm and “cheating” are different kinds of reasons.

Strongest opposing point

Record and answer the strongest actual group counterpoint, or label a supplied C1 point as solo.

Do not invent John Carroll attendance or a classmate’s words. A reply may narrow your claim.

One-paragraph CER

Combine your policy claim, E2 fact, health harm, fairness harm, reasoning, and counterpoint/reply into one paragraph. Post and screenshot for the evidence packet when the board is available.

Check: if both harms mean only rule-breaking, add a distinct physical harm from E2. If absent or stuck, start with R1’s pressure sequence, then finish this same paragraph. Ask the teacher for help opening the required materials.