Performance Enhancing Drug Usage: The NFL and MLB

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Performance enhancing drug usage amongst the NFL and MLB are viewed at two different extremes. The past two decades the MLB has been plagued more notoriously than the NFL with the use of performance enhancers, more or so recognized as “doping”. Firstly, performance enhancing drugs come in the form of anabolic steroids, human growth hormones (HGH), stimulants, and supplements. The MLB and NFL collectively have a number of substances that are banned and could be used for terms of violation and suspension if consumed. One of the supplementations banned in both the NFL and the MLB is that of a substance known as androstenedione. “Andro” was a former over-the-counter substance that was banned by most spectrums of the sports world including the NCAA and Olympics. Anabolic steroids are substances used by athletes as well as normal people but the purposes for the both are different. Anabolic steroids are used by the normal generic demographic for intentions to aid bodily deficiencies such as hormone deficiency, cancer, and even AIDS. The usage of anabolic steroids by athletes is that of building more lean muscle mass to add strength and size with the intention of improving their performance. A well-known anabolic steroid by the name of tetrahydrogestrinone is one of many used steroids used and its close relation with big name athletes, example being MLB legend Barry Bonds. Human growth hormones are banned although they aren’t proved to be performance enhancers. Human growth hormones come in the form of an injection and its purpose is to increase the endurance and strength factor of a given athlete. Lastly, stimulants are banned and recognized as energy boosters. Stimulants are used in the event of a very arduous and tiresome exercise that...

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Sanchez, Ray, and Adam Reiss. "Alex Rodriguez drops lawsuits, accepts 162-game suspension."
CNN. Cable News Network, 9 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 May 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/07/us/alex-rodriguez-lawsuit/>.
Woerner, Amanda. "MLB players' use of performance enhancing drugs comes with serious health risks." Fox News FOX News Network, 6 Aug. 2013. Web. 27 May 2014. <http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/08/06/mlb-players-use-performance-enhancing-drugs-comes-with-serious-health-risks/>.

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