What IS a performance enhancer?

The thread title is a bit misleading. My question is something I heard on The David Stein show (on at like 2AM on Sporting News Radio [for good reason, it's terrible]). Do you consider cortisone a performance enhancer? Cortisone is always used to alleviate pain and sometimes even allow players to get out there and play. I found it an interesting question, because you are pumping steroids into your joints to make it so a player can play. What do you think?

You could probably argue that a lot of things are performance enhancers. Caffeine keeps you awake so you could play a day game after an extra inning night game, for example. Well, maybe enhancer isn't the best word then.

Anyhow, moving this to the parking lot.

Viagra................

To me, an "enhancer" allows you to play better. Cortisone just allows you to play when you're hurt. It doesn't give you an advantage, it just helps you get out there.

Beer!!!!

To me, an "enhancer" allows you to play better. Cortisone just allows you to play when you're hurt. It doesn't give you an advantage, it just helps you get out there.

I see where you're going with that, but a guy's performance is expected to decline if he is injured. So, (just playing devil's advocate here) by your logic, if there were some sort of anti-aging drug, it would not be a performance enhancer because it wouldn't enhance your performance, it would only keep you playing at a certain level for the time that you take the drug.

I see where you're going with that, but a guy's performance is expected to decline if he is injured. So, (just playing devil's advocate here) by your logic, if there were some sort of anti-aging drug, it would not be a performance enhancer because it wouldn't enhance your performance, it would only keep you playing at a certain level for the time that you take the drug.

I see a difference though. Cortisone is an accepted form of medical treatment for the general population; a pain medication. A 54 year old coworker of mine just got a shot of it in her shoulder joint.

I've got no problems with players taking things that would be prescribed to the general public in the same medical situations.

I don't see doctors ever prescribing regular people with a fountain-of-youth pill, but if they did, then you'd have to allow the athletes to do it as well.

I see a difference though. Cortisone is an accepted form of medical treatment for the general population; a pain medication. A 54 year old coworker of mine just got a shot of it in her shoulder joint.

I've got no problems with players taking things that would be prescribed to the general public in the same medical situations.

I don't see doctors ever prescribing regular people with a fountain-of-youth pill, but if they did, then you'd have to allow the athletes to do it as well.

Like I said, I was just playing devil's advocate and I can definitely see your point.

Also, some people would argue that HGH is regularly prescribed by doctors and it is an acceptable form of medical treatment. The problem with that is, if it is used without a prescription, it is then an illegal drug.

EDIT: Added the last sentence

Ther is allot of stuff that is either perscribed or over the counter which is ban is most sports.

Ther is allot of stuff that is either perscribed or over the counter which is ban is most sports.

A lot of it is also permitted if you can produce a record stating that you have been diagnosed with an illness where the expected form of treatment would be that drug.