First of all, Mike Tyson has never been conventionally anything but a legend from the very moment he became the former heavyweight champion of the world. Recently, Tyson brought attention to one such topic that is still extremely controversial: psychedelic drugs in sports. Though his advocating for their use might raise some eyebrows, a necessary conversation concerning mental health, performance, and evolving perceptions with drugs like psilocybin and DMT in athletic environments has begun.
His openness about his own experiences with psychedelics has captured interest in both the sports and mental health communities. He credited these substances for helping him face his personal demons and improve his mental state. Tyson claims that with psychedelics, he came face to face with past traumas, anxiety, and depression that in a shocking way had worsened and affected his well-being and even athletic performances negatively. This turn in life came after years of fighting substance abuse and mental health issues.
The use of psychedelics within sports is almost uncharted territory. Traditional members of sports are supposed to adhere to strict anti-doping policies that forbid them from consuming any substance that would enhance their physical or cognitive performance. However, psychedelics generally are not applied for the purpose of physical performance enhancement. What they argue is that these drugs can grant the user mental clarity, strong focus, and emotional healing-things that indirectly will benefit the athlete. Tyson himself wasn’t holding back, either, with making sure to point out he had spiritual and mental, rather than physical, advantages from psychedelics.
Critics are more guarded. Psychedelics are still illegal in much of the world, and their long-term effects on athletes have yet to be documented. Further complications ensue via safety issues and potential for abuse, addiction problematics. Also, drugs in sports are stigmatized, and many just fear this may blur ethical lines further.
But for all such qualms, Tyson’s campaigning has managed to make a once-taboo issue mainstream. The more athletes who come forward to tell of their mental health battles and the therapeutic possibilities of psychedelics, the more the debate will build. It will probably take some time for psychedelics to be removed from the banned category in sports, but Tyson’s radical honesty challenges the status quo and opens one more door for reevaluation by athletes, regulators, and fans alike-for the notion of mental wellness as part of athletic success.
