Ethical Dilemmas in Public Relations- Representing a Professional Athlete Accused of Performance-Enhancing Drug Use
It is essential to note that when it comes to using steroids in sports, the urge to use them is often irresistible. Doubtless, numerous sportspersons would inform you that the drive and desire to win is overwhelming, spiralling the need to use performance-enhancing drugs. These drugs often appeal to sportspersons because they increase muscle mass and reduce muscle damage, especially during intense sessions at the gym. However, their ramifications on the human body are often severe. Apart from jeopardizing the athletes’ careers, they could develop breasts in men and even infertility. There may be a slowed or cessation of growth and development in teenagers, whilst women would develop a deep voice. It is also vital to point out that most governments prohibit steroid abuse by sports organizations and illegalize the practice.
To begin with, this organization of ours is all about promoting integrity, honesty, and fair practice, and as such, I would not accept the account. From the onset, as a public relations consulting firm, the notion of creating or using previous good records of the baseball athlete to diminish the storm surrounding the player over the usage of steroids is still unethical. As a firm serving the general public, it would be entirely corrupt and wrong to use the good past of the player or things he had done previously to cover the impending case. It would be similar to someone covering a crime, which would inevitably make the party guilty as well. It suffices to say that this is still unethical. Representing this client would only put the organization in a bad light.
Besides, the agent informed me confidentially that the player did indeed take some steroids. Potently, this strengthens my resolve. My decision remains the same because, when one pays close attention to the reverberations of the usage of steroids, it is evident that it is not a matter that should be lightly taken.
Furthermore, intensive research has found out that consumption of performance-enhancing drugs could lead to severe organ damage. Also, it could lead to cases of hypertension, blood clotting, atherosclerosis, hepatic neoplasms, and other behavioral disorders (Maravelias et al., 2005). With this in mind, it would be difficult for me to support this undertaking on behalf of our firm. In as much as this could not seem to be wrong for some people, this is akin to blackmail, in that the attention of the people would be drawn towards what I tell them, whilst the player would essentially go away unpunished for their behavior which goes against proper sportsmanship. Another ethical assertion is that his opponents would be at a big disadvantage competing against him on the field. According to Grossman et al., 2007, “…the MLBPA leadership and MLB agreed to new, tougher penalties including a 50 game ban for the first offense, 100 game ban for the second offense and lifetime ban, with the possibility for reinstatement, for the third positive test, which implies that our firm would be shielding malpractice in the long run. For instance, when Giambi was caught engaging in doping practices, he confessed that he had used performance-enhancing drugs. Any organization that would have supported them otherwise would send away clients looking for a firm with positive ratings from the general public.
From the assertions above, it is sufficient to maintain that I would not accept this contract because despite the fact that it would rake us some money and publicize us more if our client happens to get exonerated. However, I do not think we should accept this contract because the unethical grounds from which this matter surrounds itself are not one that our firm should associate itself with. This is especially because the agent confided to me that it is true that the player did take the drugs. We would be essentially defending a guilty party, even though it might make us money, but it is essential to point out that, by taking this client, we would have ethically failed.
References
Grossman, M., Kimsey, T., Moreen, J., & Owings, M. (2007). Steroids and major league baseball. Berkley University, 30.
Maravelias, C., Dona, A., Stefanidou, M., & Spiliopoulou, C. (2005). Adverse effects of anabolic steroids in athletes: a constant threat. Toxicology letters, 158(3), 167-175.
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A well-known professional baseball player is suspected of having used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. He has not been charged. His agent asks you to advise and assist him in handling the intense media interest in the case. He wants you to try to place favorable stories about the baseball star in the media and create a positive environment for him. If formally accused, it could mean irreparable damage to his baseball career.
Ethical Dilemmas in Public Relations- Representing a Professional Athlete Accused of Performance-Enhancing Drug Use
You are not asked to do anything unethical. The money is quite good, and you know the publicity from working on the case will probably help your public relations consulting career, especially if the athlete is exonerated. Would you take the account? The agent tells you confidentially that the athlete has admitted that he took some substance that was unknown to him, but may have been steroids. Does this information affect your decision? What are the ethics of the situation as you see them?
Write a proposal to your business partners regarding the situation. Answer all questions brought up in the case and compare the case to at least one similar case with a well-known ballplayer found through your research. Finally, provide a recommendation to your partners as to whether or not you should accept the contract.
Your proposal should be two to three pages long (not including the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center. Include at least one scholarly source in addition to the course text.