Steroid Use In Sports

Since the beginning of sports and athletic competition, athletes have tried to find ways to achieve an advantage above their competitors. The use of performance-enhancing drugs, or PEDs, has continuously been a major issue in the sports world, with new drugs being created everyday along with headlines announcing yet another athlete has been caught using PEDs. These performance-enhancing substances can range on a wide scale, from stimulants, like cocaine, to countless steroids. With questions about what to do about the issue, it seems that stricter rules and constant testing of athletes is the first step to making sure athletes are winning by their natural capabilities instead of with the help of PEDs.
Doping in sports isn’t a recent issue. The problem began at the beginning of athletic competition and has continued to show up in today’s sports. The term “doping” itself comes from the Dutch word “doop”, an opium juice known for being the choice drug of the ancient Greeks. From 776 to 393 BC, it was common, as well as normal, to experiment with herbal medication, hallucinogens, and wine potions in order to gain an advantage over competitors. While the items used
Doping has been a part of athletic competition since the first Olympics but over time, the PEDs used have become more advanced and dangerous. Athletes need to be aware of the potential consequences, whether that may be the legal punishments they may receive if caught, the risk of being banned from their sport, the shame of being stripped of medals and awards, and the possible health problems they may be at risk for later in life. On top of this, it is only fair that if caught, athletes are held to the public humiliation that may arise due to their highly-viewed at position in today’s athletic-minded