This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

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IELTS Essay: Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports

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?

There has been a considerable rise in detections for performance-enhancing substances in athletic competitions recently. In my opinion, the most likely consequences for athletes concern their careers and this infraction is best tackled through more sophisticated screening tests.

In the majority of cases, athletes risk lasting career repercussions when caught doping. The first and most obvious consequences are financial. An athlete who tests positive for a banned substance will certainly be banned for a defined amount of time, potentially permanently in serious cases, and will forfeit salary and prize money over this period. Beyond raw salary, most athletes receive endorsements and a worsening public image will undoubtedly damage those business relationships as well. Relatedly, an athlete’s legacy is also at stake. A well-known example of this would be the baseball player Barry Bonds who not only lost the final years of an illustrious career to suspensions but has also not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame due to his past transgressions and numerous failed tests.

In order to combat the pervasiveness of performance-enhancing drugs, sporting authorities must invest in modernized testing procedures. The most complex testing is currently utilized in the Olympics, however there are flaws in this system as it is often compromised by corruption and the equally sophisticated doping methods of certain nations. A more pertinent case study would be in sports such as boxing and MMA where testing can literally mean the difference between life and death. In boxing, athletes often agree to their own testing procedures contractually. This method is inferior to vesting power in an authority, such as the UFC, that can ensure tests are modern and fairly conducted. Most UFC athletes are tested at random points throughout the year as well as prior to and immediately after bouts. Applying such a policy across various sports would not only catch the vast majority of infractions but also, more importantly, deter abuse from even beginning.

In conclusion, athletes risk reputational and financial damage by doping and this can be prevented as testing becomes more comprehensive and potent. These measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of sporting competitions around the world.

Analysis

1. There has been a considerable rise in detections for performance-enhancing substances in athletic competitions recently. 2. In my opinion, the most likely consequences for athletes concern their careers and this infraction is best tackled through more sophisticated screening tests.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. In the majority of cases, athletes risk lasting career repercussions when caught doping. 2. The first and most obvious consequences are financial. 3. An athlete who tests positive for a banned substance will certainly be banned for a defined amount of time, potentially permanently in serious cases, and will forfeit salary and prize money over this period. 4. Beyond raw salary, most athletes receive endorsements and a worsening public image will undoubtedly damage those business relationships as well. 5. Relatedly, an athlete’s legacy is also at stake. 6. A well-known example of this would be the baseball player Barry Bonds who not only lost the final years of an illustrious career to suspensions but has also not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame due to his past transgressions and numerous failed tests.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Better to have more detail.
6. The more specific an example, the better.

1. In order to combat the pervasiveness of performance-enhancing drugs, sporting authorities must invest in modernized testing procedures. 2. The most complex testing is currently utilized in the Olympics, however there are flaws in this system as it is often compromised by corruption and the equally sophisticated doping methods of certain nations. 3. A more pertinent case study would be in sports such as boxing and MMA where testing can literally mean the difference between life and death. 4. In boxing, athletes often agree to their own testing procedures contractually. 5. This method is inferior to vesting power in an authority, such as the UFC, that can ensure tests are modern and fairly conducted. 6. Most UFC athletes are tested at random points throughout the year as well as prior to and immediately after bouts. 7. Applying such a policy across various sports would not only catch the vast majority of infractions but also, more importantly, deter abuse from even beginning.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Include short and long sentences.
6. This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.
7. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, athletes risk reputational and financial damage by doping and this can be prevented as testing becomes more comprehensive and potent. 2. These measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of sporting competitions around the world.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

There has been a considerable rise in detections for performance-enhancing substances in athletic competitions recently. In my opinion, the most likely consequences for athletes concern their careers and this infraction is best tackled through more sophisticated screening tests.

In the majority of cases, athletes risk lasting career repercussions when caught doping. The first and most obvious consequences are financial. An athlete who tests positive for a banned substance will certainly be banned for a defined amount of time, potentially permanently in serious cases, and will forfeit salary and prize money over this period. Beyond raw salary, most athletes receive endorsements and a worsening public image will undoubtedly damage those business relationships as well. Relatedly, an athlete’s legacy is also at stake. A well-known example of this would be the baseball player Barry Bonds who not only lost the final years of an illustrious career to suspensions but has also not been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame due to his past transgressions and numerous failed tests.

In order to combat the pervasiveness of performance-enhancing drugs, sporting authorities must invest in modernized testing procedures. The most complex testing is currently utilized in the Olympics, however there are flaws in this system as it is often compromised by corruption and the equally sophisticated doping methods of certain nations. A more pertinent case study would be in sports such as boxing and MMA where testing can literally mean the difference between life and death. In boxing, athletes often agree to their own testing procedures contractually. This method is inferior to vesting power in an authority, such as the UFC, that can ensure tests are modern and fairly conducted. Most UFC athletes are tested at random points throughout the year as well as prior to and immediately after bouts. Applying such a policy across various sports would not only catch the vast majority of infractions but also, more importantly, deter abuse from even beginning.

In conclusion, athletes risk reputational and financial damage by doping and this can be prevented as testing becomes more comprehensive and potent. These measures are necessary to safeguard the integrity of sporting competitions around the world.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

1. There has been a considerable rise in detections
   • There has been a significant increase in identifications
2. performance-enhancing substances
   • performance-boosting substances
3. athletic competitions
   • sporting events
4. most likely consequences for
   • probable outcomes for
5. concern t
   • worry regarding
6. infraction
   • violation
7. best tackled through more sophisticated screening tests
   • most effectively addressed by advanced screening techniques
8. In the majority of cases
   • In most instances
9. caught doping
   • caught using banned substances
10. The first and most obvious consequences

• The primary and most evident repercussions

11. financial

• monetary

12. tests positive for a banned substance

• returns a positive result for a prohibited substance

13. certainly be banned for a defined amount of time

• will undoubtedly face a suspension for a specified period

14. potentially permanently in serious cases

• possibly indefinitely in extreme situations

15. forfeit salary

• lose wages

16. prize money

• winnings

17. Beyond raw salary

• Apart from basic salary

18. receive endorsements

• obtain sponsorship deals

19. worsening public image

• deteriorating public perception

20. undoubtedly damage those business relationships

• will certainly harm professional connections

21. Relatedly

• In connection with this

22. legacy is also at stake

• reputation is also at risk

23. A well-known example of this would be

• A famous illustration of this is

24. lost the final years of an illustrious career to suspensions

• forfeited the final years of a distinguished career due to bans

25. inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame due to his past transgressions and numerous failed tests

• excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame because of his previous offenses and repeated failures in drug tests

26. In order to combat

• To counteract

27. pervasiveness

• widespread nature

28. sporting authorities

• sports governing bodies

29. invest in modernized testing procedures

• allocate resources to advanced testing systems

30. most complex testing

• the most intricate testing

31. currently utilized in the Olympics

• presently employed in the Olympic Games

32. flaws in this system

• weaknesses in this system

33. compromised by corruption and the equally sophisticated doping methods of certain nations

• undermined by corruption and equally advanced doping techniques used by certain countries

34. A more pertinent case study would be in

• A more relevant example would be in

35. literally mean the difference between life and death

• could truly determine life or death

36. agree to their own testing procedures contractually

• contractually consent to their own testing protocols

37. This method is inferior to vesting power in an authority

• This approach is less effective than empowering an authority

38. UFC

• Ultimate Fighting Championship

39. ensure tests are modern and fairly conducted

• guarantee that tests are up-to-date and conducted impartially

40. tested at random points throughout the year

• randomly tested throughout the year

41. prior to and immediately after bouts

• before and right after matches

42. Applying such a policy across various sports would

• Implementing this policy across different sports would

43. catch the vast majority of infractions

• identify the overwhelming majority of violations

44. more importantly

• more significantly

45. deter abuse from even beginning

• prevent misuse from starting in the first place

46. risk reputational and financial damage

• incur potential harm to reputation and finances

47. prevented

• avoided

48. comprehensive and potent

• thorough and effective

49. measures

• strategies

50. safeguard the integrity of sporting competitions around the world

• protect the fairness of global sports events

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ðeə hæz biːn ə kənˈsɪdᵊrəbᵊl raɪz ɪn dɪˈtɛkʃᵊnz

pəˈfɔːməns-ɪnˈhɑːnsɪŋ ˈsʌbstᵊnsɪz

æθˈlɛtɪk ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃᵊnz

məʊst ˈlaɪkli ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz fɔː

kənˈsɜːn tiː

ɪnˈfrækʃᵊn

bɛst ˈtækᵊld θruː mɔː səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd ˈskriːnɪŋ tɛsts

ɪn ðə məˈʤɒrəti ɒv ˈkeɪsɪz

kɔːt ˈdəʊpɪŋ

ðə fɜːst ænd məʊst ˈɒbviəs ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz

faɪˈnænʃᵊl

tɛsts ˈpɒzətɪv fɔːr ə bænd ˈsʌbstᵊns

ˈsɜːtᵊnli biː bænd fɔːr ə dɪˈfaɪnd əˈmaʊnt ɒv taɪm

pəˈtɛnʃᵊli ˈpɜːmənəntli ɪn ˈsɪəriəs ˈkeɪsɪz

ˈfɔːfɪt ˈsæləri

praɪz ˈmʌni

bɪˈjɒnd rɔː ˈsæləri

rɪˈsiːv ɪnˈdɔːsmənts

ˈwɜːsᵊnɪŋ ˈpʌblɪk ˈɪmɪʤ

ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli ˈdæmɪʤ ðəʊz ˈbɪznɪs rɪˈleɪʃᵊnʃɪps

rɪˈleɪtɪdli

ˈlɛɡəsi ɪz ˈɔːlsəʊ æt steɪk

ə ˌwɛlˈnəʊn ɪɡˈzɑːmpᵊl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː

lɒst ðə ˈfaɪnᵊl jɪəz ɒv ən ɪˈlʌstriəs kəˈrɪə tuː səˈspɛnʃᵊnz

ɪnˈdʌktɪd ˈɪntuː ðə ˈbeɪsbɔːl hɔːl ɒv feɪm djuː tuː hɪz pɑːst trænzˈɡrɛʃᵊnz ænd ˈnjuːmərəs feɪld tɛsts

ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː ˈkɒmbæt

pɜːˈveɪsɪvnəs

ˈspɔːtɪŋ ɔːˈθɒrətiz

ɪnˈvɛst ɪn ˈmɒdᵊnaɪzd ˈtɛstɪŋ prəˈsiːʤəz

məʊst ˈkɒmplɛks ˈtɛstɪŋ

ˈkʌrᵊntli ˈjuːtɪlaɪzd ɪn ði əˈlɪmpɪks

flɔːz ɪn ðɪs ˈsɪstəm

ˈkɒmprəmaɪzd baɪ kəˈrʌpʃᵊn ænd ði ˈiːkwəli səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd ˈdəʊpɪŋ ˈmɛθədz ɒv ˈsɜːtᵊn ˈneɪʃᵊnz

ə mɔː ˈpɜːtɪnənt keɪs ˈstʌdi wʊd biː ɪn

ˈlɪtᵊrᵊli miːn ðə ˈdɪfᵊrᵊns bɪˈtwiːn laɪf ænd dɛθ

əˈɡriː tuː ðeər əʊn ˈtɛstɪŋ prəˈsiːʤəz kənˈtrækʧuəli

ðɪs ˈmɛθəd ɪz ɪnˈfɪəriə tuː ˈvɛstɪŋ ˈpaʊər ɪn ən ɔːˈθɒrəti

juː-ɛf-siː

ɪnˈʃɔː tɛsts ɑː ˈmɒdᵊn ænd ˈfeəli kənˈdʌktɪd

ˈtɛstɪd æt ˈrændəm pɔɪnts θruːˈaʊt ðə jɪə

ˈpraɪə tuː ænd ɪˈmiːdiətli ˈɑːftə baʊts

əˈplaɪɪŋ sʌʧ ə ˈpɒləsi əˈkrɒs ˈveəriəs spɔːts wʊd

kæʧ ðə vɑːst məˈʤɒrəti ɒv ɪnˈfrækʃᵊnz

mɔːr ɪmˈpɔːtᵊntli

dɪˈtɜːr əˈbjuːs frɒm ˈiːvᵊn bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ

rɪsk ˌrɛpjəˈteɪʃᵊnᵊl ænd faɪˈnænʃᵊl ˈdæmɪʤ

prɪˈvɛntɪd

ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnsɪv ænd ˈpəʊtᵊnt

ˈmɛʒəz

ˈseɪfɡɑːd ði ɪnˈtɛɡrəti ɒv ˈspɔːtɪŋ ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃᵊnz əˈraʊnd ðə wɜːld

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

T__________________________________________s for p____________________________s in a________________________s recently. In my opinion, the m____________________________r athletes c________n their careers and this i____________n is b______________________________________s.

I______________________s, athletes risk lasting career repercussions when c___________g. T_________________________________s are f_______________l. An athlete who t_______________________e will c___________________________________________e, p___________________________________s, and will f_______________y and p____________y over this period. B___________________y, most athletes r_______________________s and a w_____________________e will u___________________________________s as well. R___________y, an athlete’s l______________________e. A__________________________________e the baseball player Barry Bonds who not only l___________________________________________________s but has also not been i_________________________________e d_____________________________________________________-s.

I______________t the p_____________s of performance-enhancing drugs, s______________s must i___________________________________-s. The m_________________g is c__________________________s, however there are f_______________m as it is often c___________________________________________________________________________s. A____________________________n sports such as boxing and MMA where testing can l________________________________h. In boxing, athletes often a______________________________________y. T________________________________________________y, such as the U__C, that can e________________________________________________d. Most UFC athletes are t____________________________________________r as well as p___________________________________________s. A_____________________________________d not only c______________________________________s but also, m____________y, d______________________g.

In conclusion, athletes r_________________________________________e by doping and this can be p____________d as testing becomes more c____________________________________t. These m__________s are necessary to s_______________________________________________________________d.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lance-Armstrong

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Health

Question 1: Do you have any unhealthy habits?

Question 2: In what ways do you try to stay healthy?

Question 3: Do you do any sports?

Question 4: Do you think more about your health now than when you were younger?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

Some people think that sports play an important role in society. Others think they are nothing more than a leisure activity.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Essay: The Role of Sports in Society