Steroids and Sports

Steroids and Sports

  • Submitted By: yensy
  • Date Submitted: 03/09/2009 12:02 AM
  • Category: Social Issues
  • Words: 1411
  • Page: 6
  • Views: 4

Yensy Carty John Athanasourelis Fall 2007
English 11


Steroids and Sports


Steroids are one of the biggest concerns in major sports today. The use of steroids has hurt stats and, most important, the human body. The big debate about the issue is, if human growth hormone or HGH, and tetrahydrogestrinone or THG should be banned completely from sport, or should it be allowed to some athletes with special needs. I strongly support in banning the drug because it is not safe to use, the Olympics and professional sports are losing their purity. Steroid use has altered the face of competitive sports.
According to Rob Nagel, writer of “Athletes and Anabolic Steroids” says that “anabolic steroids are synthetic (man-made) drugs derived from the male hormone testosterone.”(1) The steroids are used to enhance the performance of athletes, making them resist tiring practices, and build up muscle mass. According to Kenneth Jost, a CQ researcher writer of “Sports and Drugs” says that “athletes have been using drugs since the 1860s; there were reports in 1869 of cyclists using heroin-cocaine mixtures to increase endurance.”(11) Athletes feel that they are pressured to perform well and do anything within reach to do so. According to Nagel, “there are side effects for both men and women who use anabolic steroids.”(1) Nagel explains that in men, steroids can additionally cause shrunken testes, reduced sperm production, sterility, baldness, and the development of breasts. In women, they can also cause the growth of facial hair, menstrual irregularity, smaller breasts, and deeper voice.
The athletes that have been caught are being...

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