Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-14-Speech-4-037"
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"en.20041014.4.4-037"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Mrs Reding, we have noticed recently that fair play, which is the basic principle of sport and of the Olympic Games, has turned into 'unfair play'. Polite rivalry and sporting ideals have now been sullied by athletes' intense efforts to win and distinguish themselves. Within the framework of this huge effort and of massive competition, science is contributing by finding new solutions which promise great performances. Today, however, I should like to comment on the case of women and young people.
The use of anabolic agents by female athletes, especially young female athletes, damages their femininity, while abuse harbours serious risks to their health, frequently resulting in their being deprived of motherhood. Within a broader framework, therefore, the disastrous consequences of anabolic agents on young people endeavouring to mimic their idols are becoming more acute and society clearly needs our protection. We therefore find ourselves up against a new reality, the much-publicised doping. These substances are available on the market in abundance in numerous forms, either via the Internet or via the television or by mail order and, even more, in gymnasia and at sports grounds, as reported in the media. However, what we are basically ignoring is the fact that doping is a practice not only among top athletes, but also, essentially, among a lot of young people, in that substances such as these have penetrated the young generation, filling aspiring champions with hope. I would remind you that the turnover from sales of anabolic agents exceeds EUR two billion a year in Europe and about EUR six billion a year worldwide. Even though WADA updates its list of banned anabolic agents almost daily, the social problem is becoming more acute and it is the young people watching their models humiliated who are the victims.
We therefore need immediate solutions and action at global and, more importantly, at social level in order to identify the problem and promote the necessary legislative arrangements. The intervention of the European Union in this huge social problem, which damages both the image of sport and public health, is urgently required. Do we need to mourn even more victims before we wake up and accept our responsibilities? Just the other day, one of the best baseball players in the United States died of a heart attack due to excessive use of anabolic agents."@en1
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