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Doping in sports essay
Effects of steroid use and abuse on the body
Performance enhancing drugs and its effects on the athlete
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"If your goal is to be the strongest, fastest, most home run-hitting dude in the world, then why wouldn't you find every tool known to man to make that a reality?” (Tirado 1). This has become a major issue on wheather performance enhancing drugs should be legalized. Many support the “win at all costs” mentality and firmly believe that athletes should embrace it as part of their culture. Legalizing steroids would enable athletes to reach new heights in their abilities. This would then change the dynamic of the entire sports industry. Even though the competition would be without a doubt amplified, I do not support athletes taking unnatural drugs to further advance themselves. Performance enhancing drugs should not be allowed in professional sports …show more content…
Firstly, Some people believe that the use of steroids does no harm. “Medically, there are harmful effects of doping that are still not well understood. Anabolic steroids, for example, which stimulate muscle growth, are linked to a number of cancers, premature heart disease, mood disorders including uncontrolled episodes of rage ("roid rage"), and more.” (Bosshardt 1). Many risky side effects can occur with taking steroids, but athletes will resort to it and take the chance in order to get ahead (ashby 1). There are major side effects that come will steroid use. The fact that athletes are willing to put their health in danger is scary. Based on what Bosshardt stated, it even seems that certain drugs are still being tested on what it can do to affect the human body. Even though these drugs might increase an athlete’s muscle growth or endurance in order to get his/her level of play higher, it can turn into long term affects that were least expected and can change a person’s life forever. Secondly, Since professional athletes have drug testings within the organization that they play for, many have to find a way to cheat the system and get away with using steroids. “ Some performance-enhancing drugs are so-called “designer drugs.” They have been created specifically to circumvent drug testing. They are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any medical use and their potential ill effects are largely unknown” (Bosshardt 1). It even seems that certain drugs are still being tested on what it can do to affect the human body. Depending on how bad the situation is, If professional athletes get caught with doping, the consequences are usually quite severe. So to stay clear of those consequences, athletes have to find a way around getting caught. With the all of the money they make, athletes can hire whoever and do buy whatever to make sure they don’t get
Those who believe the use of anabolic steroids should be allowed in professional sports have numerous arguments for those in opposition. Professional sports leagues have tried to stop the use of steroids by drug testing players and punishing those who do not pass. A number of major athletes, such as Lance Armstrong, have been stripped of their athletic accolades due to discoveries of drug use. Despite witnessing the fall of great competitors due to “doping,” people continue to use. Because of unsuccessful attempts at banning the drug, many people believe “it may be time to head in the other direction: legalize performance enhancers” (Smith 1). No matter how many rules and regulations are made against the use of steroids, athletes will continue to abuse the drug in order to get ...
Steroids are ruining sports in the United States, and they are also going to ruin future athletes if the United States does not put a stop to it. Many young athletes in the United States are taking performance enhancing drugs because they see that professional athletes are doing it and getting results. These teenagers are using steroids because they want to look muscular and fit, but they are not aware of the negative effects steroids have on their bodies. Young athletes do not know that they are not only risking their careers but also their bodies. Steroids may make a person look muscular and fit, but at the same time, it is ruining their heart. Steroids also cause people to act differently and do foolish things like using other drugs. Parents can prevent steroid use by teaching their children about it at a young age and staying involved in their children’s sport lives. Steroids have ruined professional careers. They ruined Lance Armstrong, Marion Jones, and Barry Bonds’ careers and almost ruined Alex Rodriguez’s career. Professional athletes use steroids to improve their performance which is cheating. The game is not fair if someone is performing better by using drugs, and everybody should be performing with what they got. There are many different ways to achieve what they want in fair and healthier way. Many high school athletes are using steroids in the United States. They are not doing it under a doctor’s supervision; therefore, they are ruining their bodies without them knowing. Many of these athletes are looking at the outcome only and not what there are doing to their bodies in addition to getting stronger, muscular, and fit. All governing sport bodies in the United States need to take steroid testing seriously and give at...
First of all, what are steroids? “Steroids are a group of compounds derived from testosterone or produced synthetically to stimulate tissue repair and body growth”. Although the word steroids automatically translate into a form of sports and physical fitness abuse in our brains, it is not always used for such and it is not always the case. Steroids are used in many ways besides physical endurance, strength, speed and the ability to perform longer. “In general society, firefighters and police officers use them to better handle the daily rigors of their jobs. Bouncers and military personal use them to better prepare their bodies for combat”. For daily life people steroids are helpful and can be beneficial for the type of career or job that they have. It can help them perform jobs that require their maximum potential in order to save the lives of other people.
Many athletes that are so much better than other average athletes are always subject to the question of “Are you on steroids?” Steroids have many slang terms such as roids, juice, pumpers, gym candy, and many other humorous names. There are many Pros and Cons to anabolic steroids. The biggest one is health risk and that can go on for a while, but we will start with how they say it is bad for your long term health and how it can keep you from having kids. They say it is bad for your health because people that took it back in the 80s abused it and didn’t know any better. It 's still a bad drug it 's just in the new day and age people have found a smarter more efficient way to take steroids, yet they still frown upon it. The FDA just contradicts themselves when they say
Americans today tend to believe that there are only a select few in sports who are users of steroids. However, according to Julian Savulescu, "20.3% of professional athletes said they have tried drugs or steroids to improve their performance in the game" (3). At this high percentage, about one in five athletes are considered "cheaters". Jacob Beck believes that "using steroids is not cheating if a whole generation of the best and most promising athletes have been doing it" (5). There is no reason to continue trying to catch steroid users when so many athletes take them. All major league sports are filled with steroid use to some extent. It is impossible to have a perfectly "clean" sport without eliminating a good percentage of its players. Since steroids already have a major presence in major league sports and there is no way to ever completely get rid of them, steroid use should be legalized. By legalizing steroids, athletes would no longer have to worry about unsafe or risky suppliers; with prescriptions from doctors, steroids would be safe for the athletes, and users would be less likely to abuse them. Also, the playing fields for all sports would be more equal than they have ever been in a long time. By creating an equal playing field, sport records would be more meaningful and there would be much fewer arguments for cheating or an unfair record. With an increase in muscle strength, there would be fewer injuries and more quality performances, which would make fans more inclined to go to a game knowing there was going to be a great display of strength and athleticism.
While the effects of steroids can seem desirable at first, there are serious side effects. Excessive use can cause a harmful imbalance in the body's normal hormonal balance and body chemistry. Heart attacks, water retention leading to high blood pressure and stroke, and liver and kidney tumors all are possible. Young people may develop and a halting of bone growth. Males may experience shrinking testicles, falling sperm counts, and enlarged prostates. Women frequently show signs of masculinity and may be at higher risk for certain types of and the possibility of birth defects in their children. The psychological effects of steroid use are also alarming: drastic mood swings, inability to sleep, and feelings of hostility. Steroids may also be psychologically addictive. Once started, users, particularly athletes, enjoy the physical "benefits" of increased size, strength, and endurance so much that they are reluctant to stop even when told about the risks. Major athletic competitions, including the Olympics, routinely screen athletes to prevent steroid use.
Many people have had their lives ruined by the use of illegal steroids, yet. The desired effects are so overwhelming that people tend to overlook the consequences. Then there are the consequences. Steroid users believe taking anabolic steroids will enhance their performance, strength, size,etc.
Steroids have been in sports for the longest time. But the use of them has increased tremendously over time. Many athletes use them to bulk up and get more muscle. In the long run though, using steroid can seriously hurt an athlete. “The use of performance-enhancing drugs is not accidental; it is planned and deliberate with the sole objective of getting an unfair advantage.” (npr.org). This is what Richard Pound said during a debate over the use of steroids in baseball.The use of steroids by professional athletes is becoming more common, so it needs to be put to a halt to protect the wellbeing of athletes.
“[Thirty percent] of college and professional athletes have used or currently use steroids, as do 10-20% of high school athletes” (“Anabolic Steroids”). These numbers are alarming, but there are two main reasons why this is occuring: people tend to belief steroids will improve their appearances, and athletes believe their athletic abilities will increase. However, most are not aware of the effects steroid use has on the body. Steroid use has dramatic effects on the user’s body and mind in many different ways.
My issue over the concern of athletes have been struggling with the usage of steroids has widely spread among athletes and others; not only do steroids give an athlete a hard times but it’s also an unfair advantage to the other athletes and what they’ve accomplish. “Besides making muscles bigger, anabolic steroids may help athletes recover from a hard workout more quickly by reducing the amount of muscle damage during the session” (“Steroids in Sports”,2005). Now a days steroids are everywhere as an athlete. Many males and female young athletes preferably take it because they want to look and feel good when it comes to impressing someone and trying to become someone they look forward too. Young teens and adults try to cheat themselves in the career of their dreams. When it comes to a sport, teen athletes are not aware of what type of consequences may happen to them at the time. It may come to the time where it’s too late to take care of. In other cases, some athletes may like feeling the aggressive they get when they take drugs such as steroids. Athletes shouldn’t take steroids as the harmful health effects of the anabolic steroid in population wise. Many people have had their lives ruined by the use of illegal steroids and yet the desired effects are overwhelming that people tend to forget about the results and consequences that may effect. Athletes on steroids believe taking steroids will enhance their performance, strength, and size without having to put necessary work. These benefits, however, are associated with much short-term and long term risk.
Most people believe that steroids are a false measurement of an athletes ability, and others believe that steroids are good because athletes can become stronger and make their sports more exciting to watch. This is a very important issue today because athletes today are using steroids to gain an unfair advantage over the other athletes. Steroids can have many health effects on your body. Many doctors say not to use steroids because of the possible long-term effects. A source from a reputable website says, “It is speculated that possible long-term effects may include adverse cardiovascular effects such as heart damage and stroke” (“Steroid Abuse in Today’s Society”).
Every athlete dreams of becoming the best player in their sport. For most athletes, this dream was created in their childhood watching their favorite player perform at great levels to achieve success. Most athletes will stop at anything to achieve success, even if that means breaking the rules. An athlete whether the biggest, fastest, or strongest, will always look for something that will give them and extra edge over everybody else, even if that means performance enhancing drugs. With new records being broken day by day, I believe performance-enhancing drugs should be legal in all professional sports.
It is amazing what athletes will do to achieve higher levels of performance and to sometimes get the extra edge on the competition. Most of the time people do not realize the long-term effects that result from the decisions they make early in life. This resembles the use of steroids in a person’s life.
Steroids can seem harmless to the uninformed user but they actually have harmful side effects. According to the article “News examines relationship between steroids and heart-related deaths,” published by New York Daily News, “The study (presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago on Nov. 12, 2006) shows that deaths jumped from 476 from in 1980-1992 to 987 from in 1993-2005. Overall, 1,463 young athletes died between 1980 and 2005”(NY Daily News). This is a terrifying statistic and will only continue to rise.
In all professional sports in the United States, the use of PEDs are prohibited. However, there is only one acceptation to that rule. If an athlete is injured, prescriptions to certain drugs which are used in recover are allowed. These drugs may consist of certain chemicals that enhance muscle grow. Some athletes have used this to their advantage and have got prescriptions to these drugs for their own personal benefits, will other athletes are using it for recreational purposes. This, however, is not the only way to obtain PEDs; there are also other ways such as buying them from an underground market. Athletes with the intention to cheat will take the risk of using PEDs, since if they are successful they will achieve fame and money.