Fastest, Highest, Strongest: A Critique of High-Performance Sport (Routledge Critical Studies in Sport) - Softcover

Beamish, Rob; Ritchie, Ian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415770432 ISBN 13: 9780415770439

Publisher: Routledge, 2006

Synopsis

Fastest, Highest, Strongest presents a comprehensive challenge to the dominant orthodoxy concerning the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport.

Examining the political and economic transformation of the Olympic Movement during the twentieth century, the authors argue that the realities of modern sport require a serious reassessment of current policies, in particular the ban on the use of certain substances and practices. The book includes detailed discussion of:

* The historical importance of World War II and the Cold War in the development of a high-performance culture in sport

* The changing Olympic project: from amateurism to a fully professionalized approach

* The changing meaning of "sport"

* The role of sport science, technology and drugs in pursuing ever-better performance

* The major ethical and philosophical arguments used to support the ban on performance-enhancing substances in sport.

Fastest, Highest, Strongest is a profound critical examination of modern sport. Its straightforward style will appeal to under- and post-graduate students as well as scholars of sports ethics and history, policy makers and all those interested in the changing nature of sport.

About this title

About the Author

Rob Beamish, Ian Ritchie

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415770432
• ISBN 13: 9780415770439
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208
• Editor: Hargreaves Jennifer, McDonald Ian