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Doping in Russia
Doping in Russia
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Institution
Doping in Russia
Russia is notorious for the use of drugs to facilitate cheating in sports. Specifically, history suggests that many Russian athletes have been using performance-enhancing drugs. Consequently, Russia has experienced some devastating consequences from such deviant behaviour among its athletes. For instance, Russia received four year-ban from global sports and the 2020 Olympics due to doping practices when over a hundred athletes tested positive for drug abuse (NBC Sports, 2019). Doping is the practice of using performance-enhancing drugs in sporting events (Campos, Yonamine & de Moraes Moreau, 2003). The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that strives to fight deviant behaviours, such as the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport (Hughes, 2015). Even so, history shows that Russia has been engaging in the abuse of drugs in sporting events for a relatively long time. For example, after interfering with urine samples, seven Russian athletes were barred from participating in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Likewise, many Russian athletes used drugs in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics (NBC Sports, 2019). Thus, drug use in sports has been rampant in Russia for several years.
Moreover, over 557 Russian athletes used performance-enhancing drugs in 2010. Unfortunately, Russia has been trying to conceal the use of drugs by its athletes. Available information assert that Russian athletes have been using drugs that may include methasterone, oxandrolone and trenbolone that are dissolved in alcohol or oral turinabol to avoid detection during tests (Oksman, 2016). Unluckily, the Russian government tents to promote the doping exercise by supplying the relevant drugs. Instead of diligently handling its mandate, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) appears to encourage the malpractice. For example, Russia conceals and cover-ups vital laboratory tests showing that some of the Russian athletes rely on doping (Ruiz, Macur & Austen, 2016). Also, many Russian officials have been banned due to their participation in doping activities. Hence, the Russian government has been facilitating and encouraging drug use in sporting events despite the presence of relevant bodies, including RUSADA and WADA that could have addressed the issue. Instead, Russia pretends to be fighting the malpractice as evidenced with the presence of RUSADA but promotes it. As a result, Russia emerges as the leading country in the world with regards to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Unfortunately, drug usage could appear to be beneficial at the short-run, yet they would prove disastrous at the long-run. Precisely, abuse of drugs containing steroid components could result in adverse health complications such as heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, tumours, liver damage and kidney failure. Moreover, Russia and its athletes have been stripped of several medals due to doping. Still, the country has attracted the worst reputation on matters about sport. Also, the Russian government has been banned from hosting some international events while some of its officials are denied access to certain sporting events. Therefore, Russian athletes and government seem not to benefit, but rather lose a lot from the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
In conclusion, the use of drugs in sporting events has been rampant in Russia despite the existence of relevant bodies, including RUSADA and WADA that should fight the malpractice. The Russian government appears to be leading with regards to encouragement and facilitation of doping activities. Unfortunately, the use of drugs in sports has attracted lots of adverse consequences among the involved persons and the state. Specifically, athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs could experience catastrophic health complications during their later stages of life. Similarly, Russia and many athletes have been stripped of valuable medals and awards due to drug abuse. Therefore, drug use acts as one of the worst factors that negatively affect sporting events.
References
Campos, D. R., Yonamine, M., & de Moraes Moreau, R. L. (2003). Marijuana as doping in sports. Sports medicine, 33(6), 395-399.
Hughes, D. (2015). The world anti-doping code in sport: update for 2015. Australian prescriber, 38(5), 167.
NBC Sports. (2019). Timeline of Russia’s doping cases and cover-ups – OlympicTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/12/09/russia-doping-history/
Oksman, O. (2016). Russian Olympic team’s drug usage could have long term effects on athletes’ health. Retrieved 11 March 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jul/28/russian-olympic-rio-team-drug-steroids-health-effectsRuiz, R. R., Macur, J., & Austen, I. (2016). Even with confession of cheating world’s doping watchdog did nothing. New York Times, 15.
Donne Vs. Hemingway
Donne Vs. Hemingway
Section: English Essays
I. Introduction
Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was said to be one of the most famous books that came out of the Spanish Civil War. This book as been said to have served as a prelude to the devastation of World War II because it freed the world united against Fascism. The novel shows humanity’s great capacity for hope or despair, which is portrayed through two contrasting characters, Anselmo who is devoted,and Pablo, who is brutish. This literary work is realistic and the title was quoted from John Donne’s Meditation 17 … “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I’m involved in Mankind; And therefore never send know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.” The main character in the novel is Robert Jordan who is an American fighting with Spanish Loyalists. Robert’s character feels like an alien in his setting and disoriented. He symbolizes the best of the American dream by giving up his reputation, the good life, and security. Robert is a talkative, moody, and lifeless. In the novel, Jordan falls in love with Maria. She does not live a very interesting life and described as a very gentle person.
Her main concern in life is to please Robert as if he is almost a master. The “bad guy” of the story is Pablo. He is viewed in the rumors during the time of war. Robert depends on Pablo for attack plans and escape routes,which shows a reverse trait on both men. The story begins with Robert and a guide hiking through the mountains. Jordan planned to make contact with a guerilla band led by Pablo, and Pilar, his wife. Jordan destroyed bridges to secure attack. Jordan and Maria fall in love during a mission. El Sordo agreed to help with a mission to blow up the bridge and secure horses to help the escape. El Sordo and his men were later killed by the Fascist bombers. As Jordan slept, Pablo, stole and destroyed all of Robert’s weapons. Jordan and his guide, Anselmo, killed the guards of the bridge and then destroyed it with dynamite. Jordan found Pablo and forced him to admitting that he himself had killed the other guerrillas for their horses. Robert then crossed the bridge last as the Fascist troops had their tanks and bullets came after him. He told Maria of his love for her and layed next to her with his crushed leg and later
died. Rather than dying in vain, he had his submachine gun at his side. He took aim at the leading Fascist officer who was near, and shot him. Hemingway developed the theme of John Donne by portraying that the destiny of all human beings was bound up in the Spanish Civil War.
Ernest and John both believed that each man exists bound intimately to the fate of his or her neighbor. They also thought that every human is a neighbor who can’t be ignored if he or she suffers or dies.
II. Body
Nunc lento sonitu dicunt, Morieris, (Now this bell tolling softly for another, says to me,
Thou must die.), from John Donne’s Meditation 17. In his long serious essay, he states that “All mankind is of one author and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language, and every chapter must be so translated.” These ideas found in the essay surface in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. Both writers believed that a man’s fate is shared by his neighbor and that he can’t be ignored if he or she is suffering or dying. Hemingway’s novel included the sacrifice of one’s reputation for his neighbors, the love of another neighbor, and the end of his «translation».
Ernest Hemingway’s style of writing was forged but became to be original. His prose was made of a collection of short, strong, sonorous sentences. His writing always contained heroes that were men broken by the world. The women were strong yet weak and always described as beautiful. Hemingway was best known for describing courage. Ernest found writing tips from the King James Bible, the deceased Mark Twain, and Stephan Crane. After finding his own original style, he developed a power in simplicity and poetry in the everyday speech. Hemingway finally made sense of the usual adjective filled works of mainstream writing.
John Donne’s keen mind led to powerful sermons, both in the church and in his literary works. One of his religious prose, Meditation 17, is one of the most quoted works of all time. “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…; any man’s death diminishes me, for I’m involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” Donne’s sonnet structure has been associated with William Shakespeare. They contain three quatrains and a concluding rhymed couplet. They are not sonnet like in which they don’t have narrative or a defined theme.
In the beginning of Hemingway’s novel, John Donne is quoted, “No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I’m involved in
Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.”
Hemingway advanced the theme of this poet by showing that the destiny of all human beings were constrained in the Spanish Civil War.
For Whom the Bell Tolls, is a very slow moving story that acquires many actions to happen in the three days the story takes place. Along with Hemingway’s heavy description and redundancy, it gives the story a hard understanding of Donne’s ideas. The explanation of the characters give the feeling of the two authors similar beliefs. When Ernest describes the main character, Robert Jordan, as very involved with mankind by sacrificing his life for his fellow human being. In John Donne’s Meditation 17, … “Any man’s death diminishes me because I’m involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee…”
In both literary works, death is an important theme. All of mankind has a time for which the “bell tolls” for them. At the end Hemingway’s novel, the main character refused to die in vain. He died with his riffle in his hand and prohibits dying without winning. He voices his feelings to his love and then kills the leader of the enemy. Hemingway is known for his description of courage. Most of his works have him as the main character and the adventures are of his own. His life time opportunities and experiences are told throughout all of his literary works. An idea in Donne’s essay is about how God picks a few people as translators for several reasons such as age, sickness, justice, and sometimes war, but he calls upon everyone to come.
The idea of Hemingway’s character dying without triumph is reviewing Donne’s inspiration on a man’s fate having an impact on all neighbors. When Robert Jordan died in war, he not only killed others, his death had an impression on others in his life.
When people are brought to war in a country, they work together for security of others.
No one is fending for themselves; they are fighting for each other. In Meditation 17, “No man is an island; entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” This idea surfaces in For Whom the Bell Tolls, time after time when the characters work together to find escape routes and tactics to win the battle in the Spanish Civil War.
The power of God is a strong theme in John Donne’s essay. He gives examples of God’s power over mankind such as the setting of the sun, and the time in which we are called upon to exit life. The essay also states that humans take advantage of all the gifts we are given such as living itself. The idea that man is as selfish as to consider his or her own power, and not consider God’s power over the entire world and he himself can call upon the occasion of the “ringing of the bell”. This idea of human power verses His power, is evident in Hemingway’s novel with the actions of war. One country fighting another because of power of man.
III. Conclusion
Ernest Hemingway and John Donne had many similar ideas and beliefs. After reading Donne’s long serious essay, Meditation 17, many of their shared points were evident throughout Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. They both thought that someone’s fate is shared by his or her neighbor. Another idea that the two writers shared was the notion that a neighbor cannot be ignored if she or he suffers or dies. Indications that the opinions were mutual were through articles found in the novel that could be related to Donne’s essay. Hemingway was trying to remind his reader of the poet’s illustrating works with his own similar ideas that mankind’s destiny and related it to the controlled environment of the Spanish Civil War.
Factors
Factors affecting observation
Factors that affect observations include sensitivity and awareness; fatigue, illness, and discomfort; one’s personality; and controlling our biases.
Sensitivity and Awareness
The first factor that affects an observation is the observer’s sensitivity and awareness. Sensitivity is the ability to see or hear changes or differences, while awareness is the amount of attention someone gives to something. With either one of these factors on top of their game, it can be easy for an observer to identify subtle changes in objects. However, there has also been concern about how this factor can lead to negative outcome of observation, such as when a student is trying to learn something and is unable to observe the cause of failure, if they are not ready with the information. This would lead to inaccurate learning and ultimately affect their performance (Pandey, & Pandey, 2021).
example; Awareness if an important factor in the process of observation. For example, most of us don’t realize that we are able to see at a very high level of visual acuity; from birth. The majority of factors that contribute to our awareness are things like age, position, and light levels. By observing other people and their reactions to something we can learn more about our own awareness. Our sensitivity is also affected by age and position.
Fatigue, Illness, and Discomfort
The amount of fatigue, illness, and discomfort affects how much an observer can see during a time frame. If a person has just woken up or is about to have their physical activity cut short for some other reason, then it can be harder for them to observe accordingly. Therefore, if an observer tries to catch every little change or difference that occurs in a small-time frame, then they will deal with more fatigue than usual. Fatigue, Illness and Discomfort this type of learning can lead to negative outcomes and behaviors in that the observer will become stressed out and unable to focus or concentrate on the things they have observed (Weakley et al., 2021).
example; a person could see that his child is getting bullied at school. His child may be in pain and feel embarrassed because of the other kids being mean to her. The person may try to get his child out of school by taking her out of class or sending her home early.
One’s personality
Personality is a very influential factor in observation. If one personality type is much more prone to be sensitive, then they may be able to see changes that other cannot. However, there has also been evidence that those with more negative emotions and a high emotional intelligence often have less sensitivities than those with more positive emotions and emotional stability thus leading them to make wrong conclusions about the things they have observed (Pandey, & Pandey, 2021).
example; A person who has had little experience observing or observing things like human behavior could notice the body language of an adolescent as he hit his girlfriend or as he got angry at his parents.
Controlling our biases
The final factor that affects observation is controlling our biases. Our biases can be generally understood as the way in which we perceive and interpret things. Thus, it is important for an observer to control for their own biases when looking out for things that matter to the observer. Although, controlling our bias can negatively affect observation outcomes through the observer not being able to control their biases and their actions causing the observation outcomes to be very biased and inaccurate (Pandey, & Pandey, 2021). Example; a father may tend to look at his daughter and expect more out of her than all her friends because she is his child, which might cause him not to see her begin to skip school or get into trouble around her neighborhood.
2. Three categories of Errors in Recording Observations.
The three categories of Errors in Recording Observations include errors of Omission, errors of Commission and errors of transmissions.
Errors of Omission;
These types of errors simply are omissions of a type of observation. In case of error of complete omission, contractor or an observer should not fail to record any type of observation.
Example: Omission to record all observations of soil moisture.
Errors of Commission;
Errors of commission is when a participant in an experiment makes a mistake in recording data. In this category, contractor records an observation which is completely opposite to what he should have recorded (Pandey, & Pandey, 2021). These types of errors are mostly because of the carelessness on the part of contractor and improper training and supervision.
Example: Contractor reads 300mm for rainfall but instead writes down 200mm for rainfall.
Example-2: Contractor writes 350mm for rainfall instead 250 mm of rainfall.
Errors in transmission;
This type is when the data has been incorrectly recorded due to broken or malfunctioning equipment that is used from one person to another, for example using a mobile phone. This type of errors is so commonly concealed and is extremely difficult to trace back (Pandey, & Pandey, 2021).
Example: Contractor writes 300 mm for rainfall and transmits it to observers on the mobile phone but instead, made mistake in data entry process and transmit ed 200 mm.
Understanding and knowing about these three categories are helpful in future observations in that they can help observers and participants to identify the various causes of errors and work towards minimizing the effects of these errors on quality of data collected.
3. Accuracy and Reliability and share: Objective description, Interpretation, and Evaluation
The proximity of a measured value to a standard or known value is referred to as accuracy whereas reliability refers to the degree to which a test measures without mistake.
1. Objective description: The exposition of the objectives and design processes involved in making a product or conducting research that enables one to determine whether the goals have been met. An objective account of the object measured, its properties, the quantities to be measured, and the measuring instrument or method used in conjunction with other factors such as equipment design and environmental conditions (Powell, & Baskir, 2021).
2. Interpretation: The evaluation of the success or failure rate associated with an initiative, usually expressed as a percentage, i.e., “the project was 75% successful”.
3. Evaluation: A critical analysis and review that evaluates an objective by examining its methods, technology, and results for quality and accuracy. It is the evaluation of a product, service or process for criteria such as effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, safety, etc. It is used to determine whether an objective has been met.
4. Benefits of a group observation over individual observation
There are some instances when a group observation is much more valuable than an individual observation for example when you are researching a new product or have to make a marketing plan for a company. In these cases, it is important that the observations are coordinated and done in groups of different people who can come together to share their opinions on what they have observed (Pandey, & Pandey, 2021).
For example, if you want to find the best place for a new grocery store in a city, it will be more valuable for one person to go and observe their competition than it would be for each individual person in the city. Another example is when you want to conduct a study on how many people have your disease. It might seem like an individual observation could suffice and provide enough data, but as with most things in life, it’s better done by observing lots of people simultaneously.
How would you do the observation?
The simplest way to conduct a group observation would be to observe people in a certain location each day and record anything relevant you see. In the first example, each day you could drive through every neighborhood in your city and count how many grocery stores are in each neighborhood, then compare them all at the end. In the second example you would observe people who lived close to a clinic and count the number of people who came in with your disease.
It’s important to note that group observations are more prone to error than individual observations because more things can go wrong. Because multiple things can go wrong at once it becomes more difficult to make sure that nothing is overlooked or missed in the observation process.
Reference
Pandey, P., & Pandey, M. M. (2021). Research methodology tools and techniques. Bridge Center.
Powell, D. M., & Baskir, E. A. (2021). A matter of time: Comparing observation methods. In Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field (pp. 49-61). Academic Press.
Weakley, J., Morrison, M., García-Ramos, A., Johnston, R., James, L., & Cole, M. H. (2021). The validity and reliability of commercially available resistance training monitoring devices: a systematic review. Sports medicine, 51(3), 443-502.