Challenge
You are coaching the track team at Rocobi High School. Your star athlete has qualified to compete in the national track meet this year along with the nation’s best athletes, some of whom have broken state records. If your athlete places well in the meet, it is predicted that national attention, and subsequent economic benefits, will be brought to the athlete, you, the Rocobi High School, and the entire city.
Four weeks before the national meet, the athlete approaches you with what he claims is a way for him to enhance his competitive edge at the meet. He suggests that he be allowed to have a transfusion of his own stored blood one day prior to competition to increase his oxygen uptake, thus providing an advantage over the other athletes. You are aware that although blood doping can have such benefits, it potentially can cause very harmful side effects for athletes who engage in the practice. You are even more concerned to allow such a practice in a young male who is still developing, because you are unsure of the long term effects of blood doping. This practice is possibly illegal and nearly impossible to detect, but the situation is much less clear for an athlete to receive his own blood.
You must determine whether you should allow your athlete to engage in the activity. If your athlete does decide to transfuse his stored blood, it may not be detected by the national track advisors. However, it is possible that he may suffer health consequences. You should keep in mind that your decision affects not only you and your athlete, but also the entire community of Rocobi that will likely benefit from the potential national attention.
Continue to #2 'Generate Ideas'
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