I would assume that drugs which are banned, even what you have called "recovery drugs" must have been banned for a reason.

It's impossible to ban sports betting, so having a properly regulated sports betting industry attempts to cover off all the issues you have raised. Victoria has very progressive legislation in this regard (which would be enhanced by legislation to make cheating at sport for the purpose of financial gain a criminal offence). The best example I can think of of gangsters manipulating matches is Arnold Rotstein and the Chicago White Sox nearly 100 years ago in the days when sports betting was illegal...yet it still happened. We're much better off with a regulated system.

i agree that these drugs are banned for a reason.... But if a player were to take them..... he would be bigger, faster, stronger and better at footy than he normally would be....

It's impossible to regulate gambling..... Just like its impossible to stop drug use....

there are recovery drugs that the players aren't allow to use, that would enable them to recover much quicker...... If the players were able to recover quicker, than there would be more time to practice skills and game plans.... Which would make them better at their sport.....

Many of the banned drugs are not so much performance enhancers, but training enhancers. If you can recover quicker, you can train more - or train harder. Or both.

Therein lies the advantage, which is why they're banned.

I would assume that drugs which are banned, even what you have called "recovery drugs" must have been banned for a reason.

It's impossible to ban sports betting, so having a properly regulated sports betting industry attempts to cover off all the issues you have raised. Victoria has very progressive legislation in this regard (which would be enhanced by legislation to make cheating at sport for the purpose of financial gain a criminal offence). The best example I can think of of gangsters manipulating matches is Arnold Rotstein and the Chicago White Sox nearly 100 years ago in the days when sports betting was illegal...yet it still happened. We're much better off with a regulated system.

Your arguments lead to the view that managing the issue ( although I have some concerns with legislative rigidities of what is a very variable circumstance) is certainly better than banning. Prohibition had little effect with achohol and gambling used to be the province only of gangsters before being controlled (managed) by governments. Regulation of of drug use Recognition and control would be an improvement