Why the Ban on Performance Enhancing Drugs is Ruining Sport in Australia

Prof Julian Savulescu (Oxford University), Julian Savulescu

Professor Julian Savulescu is presenting a public lecture:

Why the Ban on Performance Enhancing Drugs is Ruining Sport in Australia


Date: 6pm-7.30pm, Thursday 18th September



Venue: Deakin Edge theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne CBD


As the Essendon Scandal rumbles on, it is widely accepted that, despite
years of investment, testing is not adequately detecting those who break
the rules and not acting as a strong deterrent to those who are tempted to
seek illegal performance enhancement, in addition to considerable confusion
about what does and does not constitute doping. In this lecture, Professor
Savulescu will argue that not only are attempts to stop this cheating
doomed to failure but some types of doping, 'physiological doping', are
compatible with the spirit of sport, and, in moderation, may not pose an
unacceptable risk in the context of elite sport. Only by allowing safe
levels of physiological doping in sport and focussing resources against
doping methods which are unsafe or contravene the spirit of sport can we
both reduce cheating and preserve the spirit of sport, whilst protecting
the elite athletes who are prepared to risk everything to win.



Speaker: Professor Julian Savulescu, Sir Louis Matheson Distinguished
Visiting Professor, Centre for Human Bioethics, Monash University is Uehiro
Chair in Practical Ethics, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford,
Director of Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics; Director, Oxford
Centre for Neuroethics (one of three Wellcome-funded strategic centres in
biomedical ethics); and Director, Institute for Science and Ethics, Oxford
Martin School. He was recently awarded a Wellcome Trust flagship Senior
Investigator Award (to start in 2015). Julian Savulescu is a recognised
world leader in the field of practical and medical ethics, specialising in
the ethics of new and emerging technologies. He is author of over 300
publications, and edits the *Journal of Medical Ethics*. He is
also founding editor of the *Journal of Practical Ethics*, an open access
journal in moral and political philosophy.


This is a free event. As there is no allocated seating, you are advised to
arrive early.

This event is hosted by Monash University Centre for Human Bioethics.