Assessment 2: Substance Abuse by Athletes from a Christian Worldview

Course Information

Course code/title: THEO 230 – Christian Ethics and Contemporary Issues in Sport

Institutional context: Mid‑level undergraduate course (U.S. Christian college model, 200‑level core/major elective)

Assessment type: Written essay (individual)

Weighting: 25% of final grade

Due date: Week 6, Sunday 11:59 p.m. (local campus time)

Assessment Overview

This assessment asks you to critically evaluate the ethical problem of substance abuse by athletes, with particular attention to the use of anabolic‑androgenic steroids, through a Christian theological and ethical framework.

You will integrate biblical texts, Christian ethical principles, and relevant empirical evidence on performance‑enhancing drug use in sport to develop a clear, argued position on whether steroid use in competitive sport can be justified from a Christian worldview.

The task builds directly on weekly readings and lectures on Scripture, virtue ethics, human embodiment, and the moral formation of Christian athletes.

Task Description

Write a 1,200–1,500‑word essay that addresses the following guiding prompt:

How should Christians evaluate the use of anabolic‑androgenic steroids and related performance‑enhancing substances in competitive sport, and what concrete implications follow for Christian athletes, coaches, and sporting communities?

Your essay must, at a minimum, do the following:

Describe the nature and typical patterns of substance abuse among athletes, with particular reference to anabolic‑androgenic steroids and their intended effects on performance and physique.
Explain how key biblical texts and core Christian ethical convictions (e.g., the body as temple of the Holy Spirit, honesty and justice in competition, obedience to governing authorities, stewardship of health) bear on this issue.
Engage at least one theological or ethical treatment of sport and/or doping (for example, a Christian theology of sport, Christian virtue ethics applied to competition, or denominational statements on drugs in sport).
Critically assess whether steroid use in sport can be reconciled with a Christian understanding of human flourishing, vocation, and worship, and argue for a consistent Christian response.
Identify at least two practical implications for Christian athletes, coaches, churches, or sport organizations in addressing doping and substance abuse.

Length and Format Requirements

Word count: 1,200–1,500 words (excluding title page and reference list).
Formatting: Times New Roman or Calibri, 12‑point font, double spaced, 1‑inch margins.
Citation style: APA 7th edition (theology/ethics students may use Turabian/Chicago notes‑bibliography if approved by the instructor in advance).
Include a clear title, an introduction with a thesis statement, well‑structured body paragraphs with topic sentences, and a brief conclusion that synthesizes your argument rather than simply repeating it.
Use subheadings judiciously (e.g., “Biblical and Theological Framework,” “Ethical Evaluation of Steroid Use,” “Implications for Christian Practice”).

Content Requirements

Your essay should demonstrate all of the following:

1. Descriptive and empirical grounding

Provide a concise description of anabolic‑androgenic steroids and related performance‑enhancing drugs (PEDs), their common use among athletes, and the kinds of advantages they seek to confer.
Refer to at least one recent empirical or review source that outlines prevalence, motivations, and health consequences of steroid misuse in sport or fitness contexts.

2. Biblical and theological engagement

Engage directly with at least three biblical texts that are commonly used in Christian discussions of the body, honesty, justice, or obedience to authorities (for example, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Romans 13:1–2, Exodus 20:16, Mark 10:45, Isaiah 56:1, Luke 12:22–34).
Show careful exegesis at an introductory level (accurate context, avoidance of proof‑texting) and articulate how these texts contribute to a Christian ethic of sport and embodiment.
Explain how relevant Christian doctrines (creation, imago Dei, sin, redemption, vocation, sanctification) shape a Christian view of athletic excellence, bodily limits, and the meaning of winning.

3. Ethical analysis and argument

Identify the central ethical questions raised by steroid use in sport (e.g., fairness, deception, coercion, health risks, the idolization of performance, social and economic pressures).
Evaluate steroid use using at least one formal ethical approach studied in the unit (for example, virtue ethics, deontological ethics, Christian teleological ethics, or a particular denominational ethic).
Address counter‑arguments or common justifications (e.g., “everyone is doing it,” “athletes should be free to choose risks,” “it is necessary to remain competitive”) and respond from a Christian perspective.
Develop a clear thesis that makes a definite ethical claim (e.g., “From a Christian worldview, the use of anabolic steroids in competitive sport cannot be justified because…”), and support it coherently throughout the essay.

4. Practical implications

Outline concrete implications for Christian athletes (e.g., refusal to dope, practices of accountability, holistic training), coaches (e.g., forming team culture, resisting win‑at‑all‑costs mentalities), and churches or Christian organizations (e.g., pastoral care, teaching on the body, engagement with sports ministries).
Where possible, connect your recommendations to existing guidelines or codes of conduct from sport governing bodies or Christian sport organizations.

Research and Sources

Minimum of 5 credible sources published between 2014 and 2026, including:
At least:
- 1 peer‑reviewed journal article or scholarly book chapter on doping, PEDs, or substance abuse in sport.
- 1 theological or Christian ethics source that explicitly addresses sport or doping.
- 1 current resource from a reputable health or sport organization on the health effects or prevalence of steroid use in athletes.
Popular websites and student essay repositories may not count toward the minimum scholarly source requirement; they may be used only to understand how the issue is discussed at a popular level.
Scripture references are required but do not count toward the minimum of 5 scholarly sources.

Submission Instructions

Submit your essay as a Word document (.docx) or PDF via the Learning Management System (LMS) by the due date.
Include your student ID, course code, assessment number, and word count on the title page.
Upload your paper through the originality‑checking tool integrated into the LMS; reviews of similarity reports are part of the academic integrity process.
Late submissions will be penalized according to the college’s assessment policy unless an approved extension has been granted.

Academic Integrity

You are expected to adhere to the institution’s academic integrity policy.

All sources must be appropriately cited, and any use of AI‑assisted tools must be disclosed and used only within the parameters set out in the unit outline.

Failure to acknowledge sources, inappropriate paraphrasing, or submission of work that is not your own may result in penalties.

Marking Rubric (Assessment 2 – Essay)

Criterion 1: Understanding of issue and empirical description (20%)

High distinction (85–100): Provides a precise, well‑supported description of substance abuse among athletes, with particular focus on anabolic‑androgenic steroids; integrates recent empirical data and clearly explains motivations, patterns of use, and key health risks.
Distinction (75–84): Accurately describes steroid use and related substance abuse in sport, drawing on appropriate sources; minor gaps in detail but strong overall grasp.
Credit (65–74): Shows a reasonable understanding of steroid use in sport; some aspects (e.g., prevalence or health effects) may be underdeveloped or supported with limited evidence.
Pass (50–64): Basic description of steroids and substance abuse provided but lacks depth, specificity, or adequate citation of empirical literature.
Fail (0–49): Misunderstands or barely addresses the issue; little or no engagement with credible empirical sources.

Criterion 2: Biblical and theological engagement (25%)

High distinction: Interprets at least three biblical texts carefully in context, connects them convincingly to the ethics of doping, and integrates key doctrines (e.g., creation, imago Dei, sanctification) into a coherent Christian theology of sport.
Distinction: Uses relevant biblical texts and theological concepts well, with minor exegetical or integrative weaknesses.
Credit: Uses biblical proof‑texts with some explanation; theological discussion is correct but somewhat generic or underdeveloped.
Pass: Limited biblical engagement; texts are cited but not adequately interpreted; theological claims are asserted rather than argued.
Fail: Minimal or incorrect use of Scripture and theology; Christian worldview is not meaningfully reflected.

Criterion 3: Ethical analysis and quality of argument (30%)

High distinction: Develops a clear, defensible thesis and sustains a well‑structured, logically coherent argument; engages with at least one formal ethical approach and thoughtfully addresses counter‑arguments; demonstrates nuanced judgement and awareness of complexities.
Distinction: Presents a strong argument with clear structure; makes good use of ethical theory and begins to address opposing views.
Credit: States a position and provides supporting reasons; ethical framework is present but may be partially implicit or inconsistently applied.
Pass: Provides a basic opinion with limited reasoning; ethical analysis is descriptive or moralistic rather than analytical.
Fail: Lacks a clear thesis or line of argument; ethical evaluation is superficial or absent.

Criterion 4: Integration of sources and academic writing (15%)

High distinction: Uses at least 5 high‑quality scholarly sources and relevant organizational documents; integrates them smoothly into the argument; adheres consistently to APA 7th or approved style; writing is clear, precise, and stylistically mature.
Distinction: Draws on appropriate scholarly sources with only minor citation or stylistic errors; writing is generally clear and well‑structured.
Credit: Meets minimum source requirements; some issues with integration or citation; writing is understandable but occasionally awkward or repetitive.
Pass: Limited or uneven use of sources; frequent citation or referencing errors; writing lacks polish.
Fail: Does not meet minimum source requirements; major referencing problems; unclear or significantly flawed writing.

Criterion 5: Structure, coherence, and presentation (10%)

High distinction: Essay is very well organized, with a clear introduction, logical progression of ideas, and an effective conclusion; transitions guide the reader; presentation fully complies with formatting requirements.
Distinction: Well‑structured essay with mostly effective transitions and clear presentation.
Credit: Overall structure is adequate though some sections may be uneven or loosely connected.
Pass: Basic structure present but with noticeable issues in flow, paragraphing, or presentation.
Fail: Disorganized, difficult to follow, or not presented according to guidelines.

Sample Answer Paper Help Notes

In evaluating substance abuse by athletes, particularly the non‑medical use of anabolic‑androgenic steroids, a Christian worldview does not simply ask whether such practices increase the likelihood of winning but whether they align with God’s intentions for the human body and the character of Christian discipleship. The New Testament portrayal of the body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit” in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 suggests that bodies are not disposable tools for competitive success but gifts entrusted to believers for worshipful stewardship, which raises serious doubts about practices that knowingly expose athletes to heightened cardiovascular, hepatic, and psychological risks. When steroid use is also framed as a form of cheating that distorts fair competition and covertly pressures others to participate in risk‑laden regimes, it appears to conflict with biblical commands to pursue justice, truthfulness, and love of neighbour in all domains of life, including sport. As Schreiner notes in his discussion of Christian ethics and embodiment, a distinctly Christian approach to physical excellence seeks to honour created limits rather than overcome them at any cost, which means that athletic achievement cannot be detached from the moral shape of the practices that support it (Ethics and the Christian Life). From this perspective, steroid‑enhanced performance may be impressive according to contemporary sport culture, yet it appears to undermine the very goods that Christians claim sport can serve, such as the cultivation of virtue, gratitude for bodily gifts, and the witness of integrity before a watching world.

The tension between performance enhancement and Christian ethics becomes even clearer when current theological work on sport is brought into the conversation, since authors such as Mathisen argue that sport is most faithful to the gospel when it is received as a sphere of play, gratitude, and mutual upbuilding rather than an arena where winning is treated as an ultimate good. Empirical research on doping patterns further complicates any attempt to normalize steroid use, because studies consistently report that athletes often begin misusing these substances in environments marked by intense performance pressure, fragile identity, and inadequate psychological support, which suggests that the problem is not merely individual moral failure but also a malformed sporting culture that Christians should seek to resist and reform. If churches and Christian sport ministries take seriously both the medical harms and the cultural dynamics around PEDs, they may need to move beyond simple prohibition toward practices of pastoral care, mentoring, and community accountability that help athletes recognize that their worth is not reducible to their results or physiques.

Students frequently ask whether Christian ethics might allow for tightly regulated therapeutic use of substances that have a performance‑enhancing side‑effect, and here the distinction between legitimate medical treatment and competitive doping becomes crucial, both biblically and in sport governance. In many codes, what makes steroid use objectionable is not the molecule itself but the intent to gain unfair advantage or exceed healthy function, which parallels theological concerns about idolatry and disordered desire rather than mere rule‑breaking. A helpful way forward for assignments on this topic is to compare cases in which athletes receive medically indicated hormone therapy under transparent supervision with cases of clandestine steroid cycles designed solely to push performance beyond natural limits, and then to ask how Christian principles such as honesty, neighbour‑love, and respect for bodily finitude might lead to different moral evaluations in each scenario. Engaging guidelines from major sport organizations alongside theological sources can sharpen this analysis and help you avoid the common misconception that Christian ethics simply repeats anti‑doping policies rather than offering a deeper account of what sport is for.

References (APA 7th)

(You may use these, or comparable sources you locate yourself.)

Backhouse, S. H., Griffiths, C., & McKenna, J. (2018). Tackling doping in sport: A call to take action on the dopogenic environment. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(3), 148–149. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-097169
Pope, H. G., Wood, R. I., Rogol, A., Nyberg, F., Bowers, L., & Bhasin, S. (2014). Adverse health consequences of performance‑enhancing drugs: An Endocrine Society scientific statement. Endocrine Reviews, 35(3), 341–375. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2013-1058
Schumacher, Y. O., & Pitsiladis, Y. P. (2021). Performance enhancement in sports: Current trends and challenges in anti‑doping. European Journal of Sport Science, 21(11), 1535–1543. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1866083
Watson, N. J., & Parker, A. (Eds.). (2020). Sport and the Christian religion: A systematic theology of sport. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315652445
Seifert, T. (2020). Doping in sport and the Christian conscience: A theological‑ethical reflection. Theology & Sports Journal, 6(2), 45–62. (If unavailable, use a similar peer‑reviewed theological article on Christian ethics and doping located via Google Scholar.)

(Confirm access and details for each source via your library or Google Scholar; substitute equivalent 2018–2026 peer‑reviewed sources where necessary.)

Essay Topics Examples

“Is Steroid Use by Athletes a Sin? Christian Worldview Essay Assignment Guide”
“Substance Abuse by Athletes: Christian Worldview Essay Instructions and Rubric”
“Evaluating Performance‑Enhancing Drugs in Sports from a Christian Perspective”
“How Christians Should Respond to Steroid Use in Competitive Sport”
Write a 1,200–1,500‑word APA‑style essay that evaluates substance abuse and steroid use in sport from a Christian worldview, integrating Scripture, ethics, and current research to argue a clear position.
Prepare a 4–5 page individual essay analysing anabolic steroid use among athletes through Christian ethics, with biblical exegesis, scholarly sources, and practical implications for players and coaches.
Assessment brief for a Christian ethics in sport essay on steroid abuse, including task overview, rubric, research requirements, and a sample response excerpt.

Assessment: Week 8 Discussion Post

Assessment 3: Week 8 Online Discussion – Winning, Idolatry, and Christian Identity in Sport

Description/overview: In Week 8 you will complete an online discussion activity that extends the themes of Assessment 2 by examining how the pursuit of victory can become an idol in contemporary sport culture and how Christian identity might reshape competitive ambition. The discussion will draw connections between your essay on substance abuse and broader questions of meaning, self‑worth, and the pressures that drive athletes toward unethical practices.

Main instructions: In an initial post of 300–400 words, respond to the following: “In what ways can the desire to win in sport become idolatrous, and how might a Christian understanding of identity in Christ reframe an athlete’s approach to success, failure, and the temptation to dope?” Support your post with at least one biblical text and one scholarly or theological source from the unit readings, and explicitly link your comments to at least one insight from your Assessment 2 essay. Then write two reply posts of 150–200 words each that substantively engage with classmates by extending, qualifying, or respectfully challenging their arguments; simple agreement or encouragement is insufficient.

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Christian Ethics and Steroids in Sport