TWO-PART QUESTIONS

May 18 • IELTS

TWO-PART QUESTIONS

In recent years, there has been a rise in the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

What are the consequences of doping for athletes?

What measures should be taken to combat this issue?

The increasing use of performance-enhancing drugs in modern sports has become a serious concern. This essay will discuss the consequences of this practice for athletes and suggest measures that can be taken to address the issue.

One major consequence of doping is the severe damage it can cause to athletes’ health. Many performance-enhancing substances are linked to long-term medical problems such as heart disease, hormonal imbalance, and liver failure. In extreme cases, athletes may even suffer life-threatening conditions or shortened careers. Moreover, the use of such drugs undermines the principle of fair competition. Athletes who rely on doping gain an artificial advantage, which devalues genuine effort and damages the integrity of sport as a whole.

Another significant impact is the reputational damage athletes face when caught. They may be banned from competitions, stripped of titles, and permanently associated with cheating. This not only affects their personal careers but also discourages younger athletes from viewing them as role models.

To combat this issue, strict regulations and frequent drug testing should be implemented across all levels of sport. Sporting organizations must invest in advanced detection technologies to identify new and undetectable substances. In addition, harsher punishments, such as longer bans and financial penalties, should be enforced to deter athletes from doping. Education also plays a crucial role; athletes should be made aware from an early stage about the health risks and ethical implications of performance-enhancing drugs.

In conclusion, doping leads to serious health risks, unfair competition, and lasting reputational harm for athletes. However, through stricter enforcement, improved testing, and education, this problem can be significantly reduced.

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1. High-Value Vocabulary

Problem / issue language

a serious concern→ Deforestation has become a serious concern worldwide.
the increasing use of→ The increasing use of technology in education…
this practice→ This practice raises ethical questions.
this issue→ Governments must address this issue urgently.

Consequences / effects

severe damage to health→ Smoking causes severe damage to health.
long-term medical problems→ Air pollution leads to long-term medical problems.
life-threatening conditions→ Obesity can result in life-threatening conditions.
shortened careers→ Injuries often lead to shortened careers in sports.
undermines the principle of→ Corruption undermines the principle of fairness.
artificial advantage→ Cheating gives students an artificial advantage.
devalues genuine effort→ This system devalues genuine effort.
integrity of sport→ Doping threatens the integrity of sport.
reputational damage→ Public scandals cause reputational damage.
permanently associated with cheating→ Offenders may become permanently associated with fraud.
role models→ Athletes are often seen as role models.

Solutions / measures

combat this issue→ Governments must combat this issue effectively.
strict regulations→ Strict regulations are necessary in education.
frequent drug testing→ Frequent testing is essential in professional sports.
be implemented across all levels→ Safety rules should be implemented across all levels.
advanced detection technologies→ AI is used for advanced detection technologies.
harsher punishments / financial penalties→ Harsher punishments deter illegal behaviour.
to deter someone from doing something→ Laws are designed to deter people from speeding.
play a crucial role→ Education plays a crucial role in prevention.
be made aware of→ Students should be made aware of risks early.
ethical implications→ AI raises ethical implications.

2. Strong Collocations

performance-enhancing drugs
fair competition
serious concern
long-term medical problems
life-threatening conditions
artificial advantage
integrity of sport
reputational damage
strict regulations
frequent drug testing
advanced detection technologies
financial penalties
ethical implications
undermine the principle of fairness
devalues genuine effort
combat this issue
play a crucial role
ethical implications

3. Useful Sentence Structures

A. One major consequence of...

One major consequence of doping is the severe damage it can cause to athletes’ health.
→ One major consequence of social media is its impact on mental health.

B. Many ... are linked to ...

Good for causes