Jennifer Sebik EC2-1PM Essay # 2- Position Paper Should Steroids Be Banned? March 4, 2004 It's amazing what athletes will do to achieve higher levels of performance and to get an edge on the competition. Often people do not realize the long term effects that result from the decisions they make early in life. The use of steroids to gain muscle mass is quick and effective, but it has some serious negative effects as well. Steroid use is more common than we think. Weight lifters and other athletes use them to gain strength very quickly, but after they stop using them and lose some strength, they become trapped in the steroid cycle.
Some people may state that the wide spread use of steroids among athletes is forcing young and upcoming athletes to use steroids, even though it's against their morals. This is because they know they can not compete adequately against their opponents who are using steroids to achieve higher levels of performance. One might say, this is how competition works though. Race car drivers and gymnasts are out there every day, pushing themselves harder and harder, going just a little faster, or doing a new, more difficult trick. Many believe they are forced by their own desire to win, and the hazardous risks they take, be it taking a corner a little faster or pulling an extra flip in a routine, are no different than the risks a football player, wrestler, or weightlifter takes when they choose to use steroids to increase their skills. Many believe these reasons make steroid use morally justified, and say their use in sports and other activities are just an added element in boosting their performance. First, the benefits of steroids are very plain to see. The user gains mass, speed, and strength very quickly. Also, he or she has a more aggressive attitude, which is good for many athletes, especially football players. A weightlifter can gain the strength and mass he wants without having to...