What do sportsmanship and gamesmanship mean, and why do performers take banned drugs despite the risks?
Ethics in sport: sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs, including the reasons performers take them, the types and effects, and the arguments for and against drug testing.
A focused CCEA GCSE Physical Education answer on ethics and drugs in sport, covering sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance, the reasons performers take performance-enhancing drugs, the main types and their effects, and the arguments around drug testing.
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What this dot point is asking
CCEA wants you to explain ethics in sport: sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance, and the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), including why performers take them, the main types and effects, and the arguments around drug testing. This is the ethical side of the active leisure industry, and it links to the commercial pressures studied earlier.
Sportsmanship, gamesmanship and deviance
The difference between gamesmanship and deviance is the line of the rules: gamesmanship stretches the rules (time-wasting, distracting an opponent) but stays just inside them, while deviance crosses the line (cheating, doping, deliberate violence).
| Term | Within the rules? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sportsmanship | Yes, and respectful | Kicking the ball out so an injured player is treated |
| Gamesmanship | Just inside the rules | Time-wasting when winning |
| Deviance | No, breaks the rules | Doping, deliberate foul play, violence |
Why performers take performance-enhancing drugs
These reasons connect to commercialisation: the bigger the financial reward, the greater the temptation to cheat.
Types and effects of PEDs
Common categories CCEA expects you to recognise include anabolic steroids (build muscle, aid recovery), stimulants (raise alertness and reduce tiredness) and diuretics (used to lose weight or mask other drugs). All carry health risks and all are cheating.
The arguments around drug testing
For drug testing: it protects athletes' health, keeps sport fair, preserves its reputation and protects clean role models, and deters would-be cheats. Testing happens in and out of competition.
Against, or the limits of, testing: it is expensive, testers are often a step behind new or masking drugs, and testing every athlete everywhere is difficult. A balanced answer concludes that, despite these limits, testing remains necessary.
Examples in context
Example 1. Sportsmanship in action. When a footballer kicks the ball out of play so an injured opponent can be treated, and the other team returns possession afterwards, both sides show sportsmanship: fair play and respect that goes beyond the letter of the rules. CCEA uses examples like this to test the difference between fair play and gaining an edge.
Example 2. Why doping scandals damage sport. A high-profile doping ban harms the cheat, but it also damages the sport's reputation, betrays clean athletes who were beaten, and disappoints fans and sponsors. This shows why drug testing matters not just for one athlete's health but for the integrity of the whole sport, the heart of an evaluate answer.
Try this
Q1. Define sportsmanship and give an example. [2 marks]
- Cue. Playing fairly, within the rules and with respect, for example shaking hands after a match or returning the ball after an injury stoppage.
Q2. Give two reasons why a performer might take performance-enhancing drugs. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of: to gain an unfair advantage and win, to train harder and recover faster, pressure to succeed, or financial reward.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA 2021 Paper 14 marksExplain the difference between sportsmanship and gamesmanship, using an example of each.Show worked answer →
Two marks for sportsmanship with an example and two for gamesmanship with an example.
Sportsmanship: playing fairly, within the rules and with respect for opponents and officials, for example a footballer kicking the ball out so an injured opponent can be treated, or shaking hands after a match.
Gamesmanship: bending the rules or using questionable tactics to gain an advantage without actually breaking the rules, for example time-wasting when winning, or trying to distract an opponent taking a penalty.
Markers reward a clear definition of each term with a correct example. A common error is to describe gamesmanship as cheating; it stretches the rules rather than breaking them.
CCEA 2023 Paper 16 marksEvaluate the reasons performers take performance-enhancing drugs and the case for drug testing.Show worked answer →
Up to three marks for reasons and effects, and up to three for the case around testing, with evaluation for the top band.
Reasons performers take drugs: to gain an unfair advantage and win, to train harder and recover faster, because of the pressure to succeed and the rewards (money, fame), and sometimes a belief that rivals are doing the same.
Effects and risks: drugs such as anabolic steroids build muscle but cause serious health problems; stimulants raise alertness but can be dangerous; all carry health risks and are cheating.
The case for testing: drug testing protects the health of athletes, keeps sport fair, and preserves its reputation and role models, which is why bodies test in and out of competition.
Evaluation: testing is essential to keep sport fair and safe, but it is costly and testers are often a step behind new drugs; a strong answer judges that, despite its limits, testing remains necessary to deter cheating.
Markers reward reasons performers dope, the health risks and unfairness, the purpose of testing, and an evaluative judgement.
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