Originally Posted by Thylacine
Civil rights are the core of our society. What sort of society or any institution blackmails you into participation by saying "You can participate, but I'm sorry, you have to waive some of your basic rights. I hope that's okay."
?
It's an awfully slippery slope. With that logic, theoretically your parents or legal guardian could sign a 'contract' on your behalf when you were a child that effectively waives all your rights. By your understanding, that would be 'okay' because it would be 'legal'.
Personally, I don't have that much faith in the legal system, our reactionary popularist leaders, OR anyone else for that matter.
No one is forcing them to play. But if they want to play they have to follow certain rules. As was proved by the 'Bosman' case in Europe if the rules contravene existing laws then they can be struck down in a court of law. We may see an AFL player who tests positive taking it to court in the near future.
One of the problems with drugs in sport is that most of the athletes are young and dumb - there was a survey done a few years ago where athletes were asked he question "if taking performance enhancing drugs enabled you to win an olympic gold medal but significantly shortened your lifespan would you take them?" The majority of them said they would. Some people need to be protected from themselves.
It seems that the AFL crackdown is for recreational drugs which seems a bit odd.
And no, parents can not sign contracts signing away civil and human rights as that would be an illegal contract and unenforceable. Also you would assume that a parent generally knows what best for their kids whilst they are still minors.