The Benefits of Performance Enhancing Drugs Among Athletes

1042 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: drug use effect on sports

Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, performance enhancing drugs have become a religious practice in “the lives of some sport figures.” The use of these supplements have given the user an edge, an edge to perform at maximum capability. Most major athletes all agree on the fact that the competitive drive to win can be quite intense. Besides the satisfaction of personal accomplishment, athletes commonly pursue high hopes of attaining a medal, a college scholarship or the once in a lifetime opportunity to play on a professional team. In such an environment, the use of performance-enhancing drugs has become increasingly common (Athletes & Drug Use). For most athletes, winning at all costs includes taking performance-enhancing drugs. The general public has to now realize that the use of performance-enhancing substances in athletics has increased at every level of competition and should not pose a serious problem in today's society. Although most people think that by taking performance-enhancing drugs, one poses health risks to their bodies. Despite what people say, the highly popular supplements consumed by most athletes are exceptionally beneficial.

First, however, this essay shall discuss why performance-enhancing drugs are commonly used among athletes. In all aspects of sports, professional, college, and high school, there is extensive use of performance-enhancing drugs. One of the most common reasons athletes choose to use performance-enhancing drugs is to bulk up in mass or “get big.”(Gerdes 6) In most instances athletes have a certain criteria or benchmark that needs to be met. For instance, linemen either offensive or defensive in the National Football League cannot weigh 175 pounds, so they may use performance-enhancin...

... middle of paper ...

...a part of athletes and sports. The use of such drugs provides athletes opportunities in career, salary, performance, and ability to outshine. With advancement in technology, performance-enhancing drugs delivers superior athletes among all sports.

Works Cited
Athletes and drug use. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2009.

"Drugs in Sport: Debatabase - Debate Topics and Debate Motions." IDEA: International Debate Education Association - Debate Resources & Debate Tools. Web. 22 Nov. 2009.

Gerdes, Louise I. Performance Enhancing Drugs (At Issue Series). New York: Greenhaven, 2007.

Mayo Clinic, 23 Dec. 2008. Web. 19 Nov. 2009.

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Are they A Risk to Your Health?" Fitness.

Rosen, Daniel M. Dope a history of performance enhancement in sports from the nineteenth cen tury to today. Westport, Conn: Praeger Pub., 2008.

Show More
Related

  • Professional Athletes: The End of "Roid Rage"

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    Professional athletes, throughout history, have been exalted for their outstanding abilities and achievements in sports. Unfortunately, many athletes have turned to anabolic steroids in order to give them an edge, a boost their athletic performance. Starting with the 1954 World Weightlifting Championships, where the Soviets unexpectedly dominated their lifting classes with the use of steroids, it has become increasingly popular among athletes to cheat with the help of this drug. Although the appeal to steroid use is evident when observing how it increases someone’s athletic abilities, many users fail to consider the detrimental side effects of the drug. Also, in my opinion, athletes should be expected to perform based upon their natural abilities, opposed to abilities enhanced by anabolic steroids. Ultimately, anabolic steroids should continue to be illegal in professional sports due to their major health risks and the unfair advantage they serve players.

    Read More

  • Performance Enhancing Drugs: Steroids

    1672 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jost, Kenneth. "Performance-Enhancing Drugs: An Overview." Performance Enhancing Drugs. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Rpt. from "Sports and Drugs." CQ Researcher 14 (23 July 2004): 616-622. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.

    Read More

  • Andrew Sullivan's Article on Drugs in Sports

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    This article effectively communicates the idea to its audience, of how large of a problem the use of performance enhancing drugs has become in sports. Using logos mostly to persuade the reader, Sullivan conveys his position with multiple examples of how things have changed throughout the years and the possible negative effects that may arise in the future. The author presents a need for intervention, but also feels discouraged about the possibility of one happening in the near future, that doesn’t involve punishment by which he ends by stating “pass the syringe”(Sullivan 3), symbolizing defeat in the fight against illegal drugs.

    Read More

  • Restricted Topic: Doping in track and field athletes

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    I. The effect of performance enhancement drugs on track and field athletes poses physical problems for the athletes.

    Read More

  • Steroids Should Be Banned

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    The role of PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) in world of sports has been the center of much controversy and debate dating back to the beginning of the Olympics, that has captured a considerable amount of attention within the past century. The revelation of PED use by star athletes has been a repeating occurrence in the world of professional sports. These allegations quickly turn legacies into scandals, for what one person once stood for throughout their career is now quickly overshadowed by the insert of a needle. The question then is, what if they were made legal? what would the reaction be and how would it change each respective league if PEDs were now allowed on the playing field? The use of these supplements has found its place in sports in a very timely and real matter, with many in opposition towards the use because of the growing concerns surrounding them, health and morally. In a closer examination of the purpose of professional sports, it is clear that the use of PEDs only bolster its purpose: allowing professional athletes to push to reach the peak of human perfection resulting in increased performance and success in sports from an entertainment perspective.

    Read More

  • Athletes and Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports

    4514 Words  | 10 Pages

    Abstract:  Since the beginning of sports competition, athletes have always looked for some kind of an edge over their competitors.  They will do whatever it takes to be one of the elite and that includes injecting supplements into their bodies to make them bigger, stronger, and faster.  Steroid use is probably one of the most common drug misuses in sports competition.  Athletes found that with anabolic steroids one could become a better athlete twice as fast.  Not until 1975 was the drug first banned from Olympic competition because of the health risks it produced.  Shortly thereafter, the rest of the sports world did not allow anabolic steroids as well.  With the use of steroids no longer permitted athletes began to look for other alternatives.  On the rise is two substances called creatine and androstenedione, both of which are sold over the counter. These two performance enhancers have only had minimal testing done on them, excluding the long-term effects, simply because they haven't been around long enough.  Creatine and androstenedione have been said to produce results like steroids without the side effects.  The truth is they do produce side effects and irregular muscle growth. By banning the use of performance enhancing drugs, just like steroids, sports competition will have a much healthier and fairer environment to participate in.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Steroids

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    Latiner, C. (n.d.). STEROIDS AND DRUG ENHANCEMENTS IN SPORTS. THE REAL PROBLEM AND THE REAL SOLUTION. Retrieved March 20, 2014, from https://laworgs.depaul.edu/journals/sports_law/Documents/Steroid%20Problem%20by%20Laitner.pdf

    Read More

  • Performance Enhancing Drugs in Professional Sports

    2029 Words  | 5 Pages

    It is NFL Sunday and you are ready to see some of your favorite athletes to go head to head on the grid iron. However, you notice something a little different your favorite athlete seems to be more aggressive and his body has changed substantially. That famous athlete that you know and adore was caught for taking performance enhancing drugs that was the reasoning for your unanswered questions about his odd transformations. Bigger, better, stronger each professional athlete tries to achieve that when they are preparing to compete in their sport, but there are some that get a little help to be better, bigger, and stronger. These athletes use performance enhancing drugs; performance enhancing drugs are a man-made or synthetic version of testosterone. Someone who takes the performance enhancing drug illegally will likely gain weight muscle and get stronger. The athletes will love the result they are getting from taking the performance enhancing drugs and would want more and that is when this synthetic drug can become harmful. The performance enhancing drugs can cause many major side effects and the most severe is death. That is why athletes should think twice about taking performance enhancing drugs because strength, endurance, and energy is not worth all the side effects that come with taking the illegal substance. The athletes who risk their lives just to be better at their sport is not beneficial in the long run.

    Read More

  • Creatine Use Must be Banned

    1924 Words  | 4 Pages

    Athletes are always searching for ways to enhance their performance. Recently, beginning in the 1950s, that search has included the use of illegal substances like steroids and growth hormones. Illegal substances have been used widely by athletes in hop es of achieving the desired Olympic gold medal or multi-million dollar contract. Some nations, for example the late East Germany in the 1970s and 1980s, have mandated the use of steroids by their athletes. The downside of using those illegal substances is that because they are illegal, getting caught using them can lead to losing that coveted gold medal, a lifetime ban from sports, and a total loss of honor and dignity. This is why the search is now on to find some legal means of enhancing athletic per formance.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Performance Enhancing Drugs

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Performance Enhancing Drugs: Know the Risks.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 19 June 2013

    Read More

  • Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned?

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many Athletes are willing to do whatever it takes to become a professional. One of the easiest ways to enhance natural ability is through performance-enhancing drugs or, PEDs. PEDs are substances used by athletes to increase their performance. The use of PEDs in athletic competition can date back to ancient Greece. Athletes use PEDs to run faster, jump higher and recover at an increased pace. Many athletes are pressured into using PEDs by coaches or managers and are not thoroughly educated the harmful health issues that can come along with taking performance-enhancing drugs. A rising issue is if performance-enhancing drugs should be allowed in professional sports. I believe that in any professional sport, the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes should continue to be banned because this rule will help to keep athletes from abusing these harmful drugs.

    Read More

  • Should Performance Enhancing Drugs Be Legalized In Professional Sports?

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    ..., Kjetil K. "Why We Shouldn’t Allow Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sport." Academia.edu. Academia.edu, 1 Apr. 2011. Web. 06 Jan. 2014. .

    Read More

  • Cheating In Sports Essay

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    Secondly, performance-enhancement impacts the future generation of upcoming athletes. Professional athletes are role models to many world-wide. They are a symbol of inspiration and motivation to young athletes. Upcoming professionals look up to their determination and love of fair and true sportsmanship in successful athletes. Allowing performance enhancing drugs in ...

    Read More

  • Athletes And Drug Use

    1679 Words  | 4 Pages

    Today, drug use in sport has reached enormous proportions in society and is destroying athletics from the ground up. Nowhere is the problem more serious than in professional athletics, where athletes, coaches and trainers misuse drugs in search of ways of ways to improve performance. Many athletes fail to take their time when making the decision whether to use drugs to their advantage. Unfortunately athletes may use drugs for therapeutic indications, recreatio9nal or social reasons, as muscular aids or to mask the presence of other drugs during drug testing. But the safety of the athlete's health is being neglected. Drug use has led to an increased number of deaths and suspensions of athletes. Also, if this continues all athletes someday will have to choose whether to compete at a world-class level and take drugs, or compete at a club level and be clean. In sports, athletes, coaches and trainers will try their best to find a way to reach the top level. They not only search for a way to enhance performance...

    Read More

  • Doping In Sports Essay

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    Overall it is clear that the need to use performance enhancing drugs is outweighed by the consequences and issues caused by performance enhancing drugs. Sporting events such as the world cup, the Olympics or the World Series make young children feel inspired and encouraged about what they could achieve through dedication and hard work. I feel it is important for the sporting industry as well as the athletes to return respectability to the sport. By

    Read More

More about The Benefits of Performance Enhancing Drugs Among Athletes

Open Document