Steroid Use in Athletics

Steroid Use in Athletics:

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Carl (fictitious name to protect his identity) was my close friend. We were buddies throughout high school and he was my weightlifting partner. I respected him. Down the road, however, my “buddy” failed me, and failed himself. He got caught up in the vicious merry-go-round of good vs. bad. He started taking illegal steroids. Carl didn’t share this information with me; I arrived at the harsh reality by myself.

Carl had a somewhat larger frame and lifted slightly more than I; but we both kept the same pace in weightlifting. Then it happened. One day Carl wanted to lift an extra set in addition to our other routines. I couldn’t keep up with him anymore. He was rapidly increasing the amount of weight he was lifting; his body was bulking up quite noticeably and he was sweating profusely, even when we weren’t working out. An even-tempered, easy-going guy turned into a depressed, angry, oddball. I was not the only person to arrive at this conclusion. The high school football coach conducted a steroids test on the entire team. All passed except one, my buddy Carl.

This incident had such a devastating effect upon me. I felt that Carl cheated, not only himself and the sport, but he cheated me. Being a sports fan my entire life, I am of the opinion that the abuse and illegal use of anabolic steroids by some athletes is spreading its way through high school like a rapid wildfire, charring everyone it meets along its path.

The use of illegal anabolic steroids by athletes to attain success and fortune is rampant, and when caught, leads to their downfall. What exactly are steroids? Anabolic steroids are related to the hormone testosterone which increases proteins within cells, and results in the buildup of muscle mass and physical strength. Corticosteroids are man-made drugs and are used in the medical treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and asthma. They do not have muscle building effects. Both anabolic and corticosteroids are taken orally in pill form, injected with a needle, or rubbed on the skin as a cream or gel. Athletes use anabolic steroids in order to build up their muscle tissue and strength. Athletes ignore the dangers of anabolic use, rather choosing to look and perform better.

As stated above, corticosteroids are used in medical treatment. In addition to treating arthritis and asthma, they are used to control inflammation of joints and diseases such as bowel disease. Corticosteroid drugs are also found in eye products, inhalers, nasal sprays, and topical ointments. “Prednisone is the most commonly prescribed synthetic corticosteroid for arthritis.” (About)

Although anabolic steroids are commonly abused in athletics, they have various medical uses as well. They are used after surgery in testicular cancer to replace testosterone; used in pituitary malfunction to aid in growth and development; and used after cancer surgery to regain muscle tissue. They also help restore and maintain lean body mass in those afflicted with kidney failure and HIV.

Baseball is a sport that relies on strength and power. Some baseball players abuse illegal anabolic steroids to enhance their performance on the field. In Juiced, Jose Canseco comments on baseball’s Brady Anderson: “Over the course of three seasons he squeaked out a mere 41 homers….Then what happened? In l996, he came back and hit an even 50 home runs.” (p.207-8) This appears to be quite a noticeable jump from 13 home runs per season to 50 per season. Further, Canseco states (Jason) “Giambi had the most obvious steroid physique I’ve ever seen in my life.” (p.168) Canseco further described Giambi’s physical appearance as bloated beyond belief with discolored skin, and severe acne.

Psychological side effects include aggressive behavior known as �roid rage’ and depression, as well as mood disturbances, hallucinations, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Nora D. Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, states that anabolic steroids are “dangerous drugs, and when used inappropriately, they can cause a host of severe, long-lasting, and often irreversible negative health consequences….In addition, because steroids are often injected, users risk contracting or transmitting HIV or hepatitis” (drugabuse). As previously mentioned steroids can be taken orally, injected, or rubbed on the skin. When injected via sharing needles, however, the user is at additional risk of the irreversible effects of the HIV virus or Hepatitis B.

“According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse monitoring, 3.3 percent of high school seniors reported using anabolic steroids in 2004 to enhance their appearance