Professional Athletes and Illegal Steroid Use

Athletes of the modern gamings be pushing their torso to the limits, non yet through and through rigid arrange and training, new techniques and strategies scarce to a fault by enhancing or altering the ashess physiological catch up with up. Admittedly, the function of drugs in todays sport is widespread. Statistics show that athletes blush the amateur ones as newborn as 12 years old be already taking steroid hormones or drugs to evoke their deed in their respective fields. In a spate conducted by the NCAA in 2004, it was reported that among 19-22 year-olds, 18.9% of them responded that they knew friends within the said(prenominal) age bracket who argon taking steroids and who atomic number 18 playing a sport and 3% of risque school seniors argon victimisation steroids as accomplish custodyt sharpenrs, how a lot more for the original athletes who live with a lot more at stake than righteous name, reputation, medal and trophy.So what are steroids and why ha s it raised so m both clamors, not only among the field of sports but also among the field of science? If an athlete takes steroids, would it be tantamount to cheating as he is not utilizing his own bodys capabilities but that of a drug? Drugs commonly referred to as steroids are classify as anabolic, androgenic, and corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are phthisis to control inflammation. anabolic steroids which conduct been the object of media attention are the adult maleikin of drugs which is engage upd by athletes and body imageers to improve and batch up their profile and bodys physiology. anabolic is a Greek word which means to build up and these are synthetic endocrine glands that cause the body to modernize more muscle at the similar time pr reddenting muscle break down. In the coupled States, it is illegal to take anabolic steroids without prescription from a doctor. Androgenics or androstenedione (andros) is a lesser or weaker kind of anabolic steroid. It primari ly works by summation testosterone and muscle proteins and many another(prenominal) of weigh lifters take this steroid.The Benefits of SteroidsThe kind-hearted body produces steroids natur everyy. In the case of anabolic steroids, they correspond the chemical structure of the male sex hormone testosterone. It facilitates the maturation of the male secondary sexual characteristics as well as facilitating muscle growth. Hobart, Sarah. But tho akin any another(prenominal) unfoldment in science, steroids were not developed in order to enhance an athletes capabilities. Rather it was developed in the 1930s in order to treat hypogonadism. populate with such disorder do not produce enough testosterone and the use of steroid helps replace the much needed testosterone. Such success caught up with the athletes. In 1956 Olympics, Russian athletes who used steroids were observed to be using catheters when urinating. Ironic onlyy, the athletes had trouble urinating because their pro rur al areas keep up enlarged because of the excessive use of the drug.Subsequent observations and studies have manifested the benefits of the use of steroids by captain athletes. pack lifters who used steroids were seen to have increased their muscle potency and muscle growth. In comparison to those weight lifters who used steroids, those who took placebo or did not take anything at all showed a very slow increase in muscle growth and strength. Steroids not only enhance the athletic surgical procedure of athletes, it also provide for the development of a physically fit, tighter and toner body not only for men but also for women.The Risks and EffectsJust like any other drug, steroids have also its share of risks and emplacement put ups. One of the particular concerns of health officials over steroid use for a prolonged period is liver-colored damage, increased risk in heart disease. The font make of the steroid use are also severe. For men who use steroids, they tend to develop breasts or gynecomastia, painful prolonged erection (priapism) and edema referable to water and sodium retention. In the case of the Russian athletes in 1956, they had trouble urinating due to the enlargement of their prostates. cardiovascular problems also occur due to the increase of apparent movementing cholesterol or the low-density lipoprotein levels sort of of enhancing the well-grounded cholesterol or the high-density lipoprotein levels. With these harmful physical effects, mental problems also come up. There was an indication that man who takes steroids showed behavioral changes like being aggressive.On the other hand, women who use steroids suffer irreversible damages unlike the men who can correct what ever side effect they have after discontinuing the use of such drug. Women develop facial hair growth, enlarged clitoris, and coarser skin. They also increase the same cardiovascular problems like the men do. Women also are at risk of infertility and other reproductiv e disorders. Admittedly, professional athletes both men and women muted continue to use illegal steroids disregarding the risks even death because of their desire to win.EthicsThe debate of the use of steroids is not only limited to the health concerns. Rather, the use of steroids by professional athletes is centered on ethics. One ground over steroid use by professional athletes is that it is a form of cheating. When using steroids as operation enhancing drugs, they tend to depend on the drugs cap top executive alternatively of their own. Athletes using performance-enhancers seek to increase their athletic ability via drugs rather than through the training process, which requires true trueness and effort on the part of the athlete (Steroids run for Safe, 2004).The athletes who are the center and the heart of the game use steroids to win or better their chances in winning, they gave into the military unit of the drugs over them instead of wielding and showcasing their strength s. This is in the end being partial to other athletes and professional players who only depend on their prowess, not of the drugs. And since professional athletes play to win, as they are paid to do so, those who do not use steroids are extremely pressured to use them too in order to compete with the other athletes who have highly enhanced performance.Another point raised on the honorable perspective of the use of steroid is that such use of a performance-enhancing drug allows professional athletes to tap into their unexplored potentials. Although as discussed above, the athletes are the hearts of the game and they should be the one controlling it, not some drug, put away with the aid of the drug, they are only harnessing their potentials to full use. The concealing and the rights of the athletes to do to his body whatever he thinks is skilful to him must be respected. Providing a stricter pattern on the use of steroid among professional athletes will not solve the problem.The decision to use or not to use such drug must be left to the discretion of the athlete. The use of steroids among professional athletes whitethorn ultimately have been the result of media hype, and the chuck out on the use of such has been based on moral panic. By the making the use of steroids criminal, through drug testing may be even the cause of more health risks for the athletes. As it is unsufferable to acquire the drug through a doctor, they instead turn to the underground or black market. or else of providing adequate help to the athletes who may limit or control the use of such drugs, banning it is ultimately forcing them to continue using steroids thitherby driving them to progress health risks in the first place.Athletes especially the professional ones are the role models of society especially the youth. They have been looked up to by the society as pillars that are looked up to. While each individual have the rights to do what he thinks is best for his own self, the state or the organization can still call in regulations among its citizens especially if it concerns the health of many. The question of ethics should not come first but the health concerns.Although there have been reports and studies some the long time effects of the use of steroids, published cases of tumors and cancer-related cases, health experts and researchers do not exactly know the consequences of steroid abuse notwithstanding with all the data and reports submitted by researchers and users alike, still this are not conclusive and may be inaccurate. And so the federal government has issued a ban on the use of such. Possession of steroids with the intent of distributing it is considered illegal and punishable by law. Likewise, the use of steroids in sports is considered to be a violation of sports leagues and councils even the ethics of sportsmanship.But even with all the ban and regulation made by the government for the use of steroids especially in professional sports , many athletes still continue to use it despite warnings of its risks. As drug testing is one way of ascertain whether an athlete is using steroids or not, professional athletes have found a way to go about and escape such drug testing. Just like the Ben Johnson who failed to bring home the gold in the 1988 summertime Olympics when he tested positive for steroids. The catch is, he took 19 drug tests before that before he failed in the Seoul Games which eventually led to the ritual killing of his gold medal. Ultimately, it is really up to the athlete whether he will use steroids to enhance his athletic performance or not notwithstanding the ban and regulation made by the federal government and the question of ethics as well.ReferenceBahrke, M.S., and C.E. Yesalis. The Future of Performance-Enhancing Substances in Sport. The doc and Sports Medicine , 2002, 30(11)1-21.Chuey, Daniel, Introduction to Benefits and Risks www.biodavidson.edu accessed 1/30/06Chyka, P.A.. Androgenic-anabol ic steroids. clinical Toxicology. Philadelphia.WB Saunders, 2001, 595-601.Hobart, Sarah, Athlete Use and Abuse of Performance Enhancing Drugs www.biodavidson.edu accessed 1/30/06NCAA. NCAA Drug-Testing Results 2002-2003. Accessed 01/30/06 2003.2004. Steroids Play Safe, Play Fair. American Academy of Pediatrics. . 1 Oct. 2004.