Steroids in Professional Sports

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Steroids in Professional Sports
Sports is one of the most popular forms of entertainment we have today. Whether it’s football, basketball, soccer, baseball, etc., fans are willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money in order to watch sports. There are few issues in the world of sports. But there is one issue that stands out, steroids. Although steroids may increase strength, stamina and athleticism, they are incredibly harmful to your body and should never be used. Still, some athletes persist in taking them, knowing that these substances provide a physical advantage. Although this is true, steroids can cause serious physical and psychological side effects.
Steroids are simply a derivative of the naturally occurring male anabolic hormone testosterone (“Anabolic“). Testosterone naturally triggers the maturing of the male reproductive system in puberty, which includes growth of body hair and the deepening of the voice. The hormone helps the body retain proteins, which aids in the development of muscles (“Anabolic“). "Although there are many types of steroids with varying degrees of anabolic and androgenic properties, it's the anabolic property of steroids that lures athletes," says Dr. Wadler. "They take them to primarily increase muscle mass and strength"(“Anabolic”). Basically, a steroid just makes the muscles grow bigger faster than conventional training does.
So if steroids are so harmful to the body, why do athletes insist on taking them? In a world where athletes are growing bigger, stronger and faster, there is constant competition for roster spots in programs. Although some athletes still compete for the “love of the game,” the main motivation in professional sports is money. On an NFL roster, the minimum yearly salary ...

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