The Dangers Of Steroid Abuse In Sports

Steroid abuse in sports Every four year top athletes meet and compete at the Olympic games and unfortunately, more athletes are being tested positive for doping. The use of synthetic drugs has negatively shaped the way we play sports today. Doping is considered as a form of cheating since specific banned substances are used to enhance the athlete’s performance. The bans of steroids use in sports, enforced by the Olympic committee, restrict the athlete’s misuse and abuse of steroids. Certain cases, have reported that athletes take doses that are 10 to 100 times higher than those used for medical conditions, causing the potential for even greater negative consequences (Zaccardi, 2000, para. 13). Steroids not used for legitimate medical function, by athletes, can cause serious physical, psychological, and social effects. Steroid abuse, common among athletes and bodybuilders are associated with a range of physical effects. Although, athletes may experience increase in muscle mass, strength, and endurance, steroids can also cause abnormal enlargement of the heart muscles, stunted growth in teens, shrinking of the testicles in men and enlargement of the clitoris in women (Dowshen, 2010, p.1). In addition, according to
Dowshen (2010), health problems due to the use of steroids may not appear until years after usage ends (p.2). Consequences may include liver and kidney tumors, jaundice, high blood pressure, increases in cholesterol levels, cancer, fluid retention and severe acne (Dowshen, 2010, p.2). Women were also reported to experience growth of facial hair, male pattern baldness, deepening of the voice and changes or cessation in menstrual cycle which can cause long term problems with fertility (Dowshen, 2010, p.3). In men, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, breast development, and increased risk of prostate cancer were found to be related with the use of steroids (Dowshen, 2010, p.3). In hopes to improve their ability to run faster, hit farther, lift heavier weights, jump higher, or have more endurance, athletes who use steroids risk a greater chance of suffering serious life threatening diseases. Steroid abuse can have intense psychological effects. Because of the competitive nature of sports certain athletes may feel pressured to use steroids in order to do well. Driven by their devotion to achieve first place, athletes may become psychologically dependent. Furthermore, the envy to always feel accomplished and perform better than others may influence athletes to use the drug. Knowing that steroids can affect the brain, “Athletes who use steroids may undergo temporary personality changes. Users may exhibit uncontrolled aggression and violent behavior called roid rage, in addition to severe mood swings, manic episodes, and depression. Moreover, users may suffer paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment from feelings of invincibility. During periods when they do not use, chronic users may experience withdrawal symptoms that intensify the psychological effects.” (Connolly, 2000, p.45) Anabolic steroids have negatively influenced the fundamental value of the sport industry. Sports have a great impact on the younger Generation. Not only does it provides them with entertainment but also offers them role models. Sports may hold a structured role in an adolescent’s day-to-day life; most of them watch their favorite sports on television at a specific time or day and also have favorite players or teams that they like to see play. However, when the use of anabolic steroids developed and the popularity of the drug increased, the drug also spread rapidly to sports of young athletes. Many instances were reported, such as in the late 1960s, a West Coast athletic trainer described being approached by a track coach for grade school and high school girls to procure amphetamines for his athletes (Yesalis, 2002, p. 65). Also, in 1968, Gilbert described instances of use of amphetamines by high school basketball and football athletes, with one episode also involving a coach supplying the drugs (Yesalis, 2002, p. 65). The use of anabolic steroids has evolved from their original medical purposes to attracting professional athletes and thus young athletes wanting to enhance their physical ability by consuming drugs. In conclusion, as much fun and exciting sports are meant to be to the viewers, the involvement of athletes in the use of anabolic steroids really takes away the fundamental value of sports.
The use of anabolic steroids is proven to have many side effects which are threatening to the health of the athletes. Anabolic steroid abuse is not only illegal in sports, but using them in any shape or form to enhance performance is considered as a form of cheating. Even though great procedures are taken to minimize the issue, athletes go through great lengths to get around it. Unfortunately, athletes who consume anabolic steroids and believe that steroids will bring them further in their career are, on the other hand, getting closer to reaching their
failure.

References:
Connolly, S. (2000). Just the facts: Steroids.London, UK: Heinemann Library.
Dowshen, S. (2010, October). Steroids. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/steroids.html
Yesalis, E. C. (2002). History of doping in sport. Retrieved from http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/ISS/ISS2401/ISS2401e.pdf
Zaccardi, N. (2000, March). Guide body enhancement: Anabolic steroids. Retrieved from http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869P/CHEM869PLinks/www.wellnessmd.com/anaboli cs.html