Why Are Performance-Enhancing Drugs Illegal?
Also known as “doping”, the act of taking performance enhancing drugs for optimal athleticism is a well-known point of controversy in the sports world, with recent big name figures like Alex Rodriguez recently admitting their illicit use to the masses. Substances like steroids and amphetamines can increase strength and stamina, clearly putting an athlete at an unfair advantage. These drugs are illegal because they present extreme health risks with excessive use.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids include the hormone testosterone and promote muscle mass. Some athletes take pure testosterone or synthetic modifications of the performance enhancer. Anabolic steroids reduce the amount of damage that occurs to muscles during work-out sessions, helping athletes recover more quickly and train more aggressively.
Designer steroids are fairly new to the sports drug scene, created to be undetectable by current drug tests. They are not approved by the FDA and, unlike anabolic steroids, are not prescribed by physicians.
Health threats of steroids for men include: prominent breasts, baldness and infertility. Women can experience increased body hair and a deepened voice. Both sexes can develop severe acne, liver abnormalities, bad cholesterol levels, aggressive behaviors, psychiatric conditions, and drug dependence.
Diuretics are also considered to be part of the performance drug suite: They can help athletes lose excess weight in order to qualify for a wrestling weight class or pass a drug test by diluting urine. Diuretics can cause dehydration, dizziness and kidney problems.
Many athletes also take amphetamines like caffeine, Adderall and Dexedrine to give them the desired alertness and energy they need to perform at their highest level. Stimulants reduce fatigue, suppress appetite and activate the central nervous system, which increases heart rate and blood pressure. There are serious side effects to stimulant usage, such as heart abnormalities, extreme weight loss and drug dependency.
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March 12th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Interesting Post! I’m not sure if being huge and muscly outweighs being bald and having man breasts!! Designer Steroids sound very dangerous and I don’t think athletes are aware of the risks involved. Thanks for sharing!
May 4th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
As a follow up to this great article, the Sports and Drugs ProCon.org website explores the core question, “Should performance enhancing drugs (such as steroids) be accepted in sports?” by using pro and con sources to answer over 30 questions related to performance enhancing drugs in sports.