Anabolic Steroids are mostly artificial forms of hormones that are used to increase strength and weight (Yesalis). Steroids have been used by competitors throughout history to gain an advantage over their opponents (Should). According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), doping is defined as “the administration of or use by a competing athlete of any substance foreign to the body or of any physiological substance taken in abnormal quantity or taken by an abnormal route of entry into the body with the sole intention of increasing in an artificial and unfair manner his/her performance in competition.” Most experts agree that issues regarding the use of performance enhancing substances have gotten worse since the 1960s because the number
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People call us a nation on steroids, but what are the long term effects? While we currently cannot prove that steroids directly cause cancer, heart attacks, kidney failure, and strokes, scientists do know that they may be associated with each other and that oral steroids, in high doses, can causes liver problems. We do not know the long term effects; however, scientists believe there are many negative long term effects, especially if the competitor used steroids for a significant amount of time (Bigger). In this image off to the right, we see some of the many potential negative side effects of drugs in both me and women(Wolfgang). While some argue that we could just put a limit on how much of a certain drug an athlete can use, the ability to control doping is very limited and there is a continuing battle between bans and the discovery of new enhancers that have not yet been banned, plus there would be nothing stopping competitors from performing a harmful overdose thinking they would get quicker results (ProCon). Doctors are finding more and more torn/pulled muscles because of too much muscle mass on the body as a result of using steroids and doping (Should). A good example of steroid use is the world of baseball. Baseball players used to be scrawny and small but now they are jacked (buff). More than 80% of baseball players used to be “on the juice” (Bigger). These baseball players are not only doing damage to themselves, but also to the kids and teenagers who look up to and admire them. Kids in high school and the minor leagues are risking their health, futures, and dignity by breaking the law to cheat because they think if they do not, they will not have a chance of ever becoming successful (ProCon). Not only is drug use a serious concern because of the health threats, but also for the concepts of integrity and fair play in
People call us a nation on steroids, but what are the long term effects? While we currently cannot prove that steroids directly cause cancer, heart attacks, kidney failure, and strokes, scientists do know that they may be associated with each other and that oral steroids, in high doses, can causes liver problems. We do not know the long term effects; however, scientists believe there are many negative long term effects, especially if the competitor used steroids for a significant amount of time (Bigger). In this image off to the right, we see some of the many potential negative side effects of drugs in both me and women(Wolfgang). While some argue that we could just put a limit on how much of a certain drug an athlete can use, the ability to control doping is very limited and there is a continuing battle between bans and the discovery of new enhancers that have not yet been banned, plus there would be nothing stopping competitors from performing a harmful overdose thinking they would get quicker results (ProCon). Doctors are finding more and more torn/pulled muscles because of too much muscle mass on the body as a result of using steroids and doping (Should). A good example of steroid use is the world of baseball. Baseball players used to be scrawny and small but now they are jacked (buff). More than 80% of baseball players used to be “on the juice” (Bigger). These baseball players are not only doing damage to themselves, but also to the kids and teenagers who look up to and admire them. Kids in high school and the minor leagues are risking their health, futures, and dignity by breaking the law to cheat because they think if they do not, they will not have a chance of ever becoming successful (ProCon). Not only is drug use a serious concern because of the health threats, but also for the concepts of integrity and fair play in