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Australian sport has been thrown into disarray as the Queensland cocaine scandal continues to widen.
What started with the surprise arrest of prized Queensland Reds recruit Karmichael Hunt has now seen two big fish of the NRL, Greg Bird and David Taylor, implicated.
Predictably the moral debates have followed, pro-drugs campaigners have used this as a launch pad for why prohibition of drugs has failed.
I’m not going to get into that debate, but I am going to tell you why professional athletes cannot take illicit drugs.
Let’s start by ignoring the fact that these so-called party drugs are illegal.
There are plenty of people around the country who believe professional athletes are adults and they should be allowed to put into their body whatever they want. That these athletes understand the risks associated with consuming illicit drugs, that there is every possibility these substances will actually diminish their performance, and they are OK with it.
These people argue that every athlete needs a release from the pressures of competition. If this is how they choose to achieve that release, that is their right.
Unfortunately this argument ignores the fact that all professional athletes are role models. Whether they like it or not.
These athletes have a responsibility not just to their team, but also to the thousands of children who idolise them. The moment professional athletes start glamourising illicit drugs is the moment children start to consider consuming such drugs. There is a reason athletes are no longer allowed to promote cigarettes.
The negative effects of consuming drugs are well known. Damage to the heart, liver and kidneys, increased risk of stroke, seizures and heart attacks, paranoia, aggressiveness and hallucinations are just some of the conditions drug users may suffer from.
While we are aware of these negative effects, many teenagers are not. They see professional athletes consuming illicit substances and think that if a professional athlete can perform at an elite level while using, than there are no negative effects. As a result, they consume illicit drugs without considering the full range of possibilities. And once you start, you never know if you will be able to stop yourself.
Illegal or not, drugs have the potential to destroy lives. Athletes need to recognise this when they consume drugs. Every action that they make does not only affect themselves but thousands of others around the country. Athletes have the potential to ensure that this affect is for good, however not all do.
I have no issue with responsible adults weighing up the risks and making an informed decision when choosing to consume drugs. The problem is, most teenagers do not weigh up the risks when considering consuming drugs.
Professional athletes have a right to earn an income, but the flipside of that right is the responsibility to society. If they want the right to consume illicit drugs without the public knowing, then they should not have the right to earn a very sizeable income from plying their chosen trade. Choose drugs and live in anonymity without earning money playing football, or choose the money and stay away from drugs.
Despite the influence the actions of sporting stars have on children it is important not to discount the role parents play in this. Everything children hear their parents say has an impact, and over time these comments accumulate and make a considerable bearing on the actions of children.
While athletes shouldn’t be using illicit drugs, the past few days have shown it is foolish to assume that none do. That means parents have to do their best to ensure that their child isn’t swayed by the irresponsible actions of a sporting star. If teenagers are consuming drugs this weekend purely because Karmichael Hunt and Greg Bird are, then the parents aren’t doing their job.
The media, athletes and Australian sporting public need to take a big-picture view when looking at the use of illicit drugs by Australian professional athletes. Athletes who claim they have a right to consume drugs free from testing are not thinking about the overall health of their sport and the impact their actions have on society.
Follow Cameron on Twitter: @fromthesheds
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