Performance Enhancing Drugs Should Be Banned in Professional Sports

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Recommended: steroid takers must be banned from team sports activities.

In 2013, 12 Major League Baseball players each received fifty game suspensions without pay for using performance enhancing drugs. Big names such as Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez were on this list. Testosterone, an illegal substance, is what is found in the performance enhancing drugs. Testosterone increases male characteristics such as body hair, aggression, deepening of the voice, and of course massive muscle growth (“Steroids” par. 1). Some professional athletes claim to use performance enhancing drugs to recover more quickly from injury; others take them because they have not seen the positive feedback in working out, without the use of the steroids. Steroids may be referred to as 'roids', juice, hype, or pump and they are powerful drugs. Performance enhancing drugs should be completely banned from professional sports because they are illegal, unhealthy, and unfair. Steroids are illegal in professional sports because, it may help the competitor gain an advantage over all other athletes, and it negatively impacts the users body. Steroids have been named illegal by many different sports organizations and committees. The International Olympic Committee, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, and the National Hockey League all have banned the use of any, and all steroids (Tolliver par. 15). The NCAA banned the use of steroids as far back as 1973. Since the NCAA began testing in 1986, the percentage of users has dropped significantly (Adams 24). Taking steroids or performance enhancing drugs, does not only have a negative affect on the body, but they also is terrible for an athletes reputation, when they get caught (“Steroids” par. 2). Many... ... middle of paper ... ...eb. 14 Oct. 2013. Aschwanden, Christie. “The Science of Doping.” Smithsonian. Jul/Aug 2012: 56-60. Web. 15 Oct. 2013. Bjornlund, Lydia. How Dangerous Are Performance-Enhancing Drugs? San Diego, CA, Reference Point Press, 2011. Print. Hansen, Luke. “Good Sports.” America. 26 August 2013: 22. Humanities International Complete. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. Hoberman, John. “Listening To Steroids.” Wilson Quarterly. Winter 95: 35. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. “Peddling Deception.” America. 12 Nov. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2013. “Steroids In Professional Sports.” Pennsylvania State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2013. Tolliver, James. “A Guide For Understanding Steroids and Related Substances.” Office of Diversion Control. Mar. 2004. Web. 17 Oct. 2013. Vandermause, Mike. “Packers' Aaron Rodgers 'shocked' by Ryan Braun's suspension.” USA Today. 26 July, 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

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