A Razor's Edge
Athletic competition is all about getting an edge. Whether it’s the latest technique in swinging a bat or the newest innovation in sportswear or equipment, competitors are always looking for the advantage. Furthermore, that edge a majority of the time has nothing to do with equipment or techniques, but has everything to do with strength, stamina, and recovery time. With that said, there is heightened sensitivity of the use of illegal substances; more specifically steroids, in today’s professional sports. What often goes unnoticed, is the negative effects they have on their users. Anabolic steroids and their relatives may provide an edge to their users, but the effects they have on said users and the seepage of the drugs from professional sports on down to the scholastic sports level is far too high a price to be paid for a slight edge in the game.
First, what are anabolic steroids? Anabolic steroids are “synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone.” (http://www.gdcada.org). The major effects of testosterone can be broken down into two specific forms. First is an androgenic effect; “the term androgenic refers to the physical changes experienced by a male during puberty…this form is also responsible for the majority of the side effects of steroid use.” (http://www.gdcada.org). Second, is an anabolic effect; “the term anabolic refers to promoting of anabolism, or the actual building of tissues, mainly muscle, accomplished by the promotion of protein synthesis.” (http://www.gdcada.org). In brief, the anabolic steroids encourage the growth of muscle tissue, “increase lean body mass, strength, and aggressiveness.” (http://www.gdcada.org). Furthermore, people who participate in steroid abuse are often not limited to just the ones anabolic in nature. “Examples of drugs serving as alternatives to anabolic steroids include, among others: human growth hormone and even insulin.” (http://www.gdcada.org).
As with many other drugs, legal and illegal, there are various negative side effects associated with steroid use. Although, some are common, others can be life threatening. Some of the major effects include liver tumors, jaundice, fluid retention, and high blood pressure. For men, additional side effects include: shrinkage of the testicles, reduced sperm count, development of breasts, baldness and infertility. (http://www.gdcada.org).
As seen in the last two side effects and others, some results are irreversible. In addition, women who take steroids are not safe from side effects either. Troubles women have when taking anabolic steroids include: “growth of facial hair, deepened voice, and changes in or cessation of menstrual cycles” (http://www.gdcada.org). As a whole, “users may suffer from paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.” (http://www.gdcada.org).
As many children did, we often grew up idolizing many athletes and wanting to be exactly like them. Unfortunately, the sad truth sometimes is that the child may follow in his or her favorite athlete’s footsteps too closely. An article from July of 2004 stated: “The abuse of steroids is a major problem in college sports, said witnesses who testified at the recent hearing of the U.S. Senate’s Caucus on International Narcotics Control. A former Division I football player, who testified anonymously, said one of his teammates was a dealer who had supplied steroids to seven or eight other players”(Suggs). Imagine if just one in every three of the 119 Division I-FBS football teams had one player dealing to even just five of his teammates. That is about 200 potential college athletes abusing steroids or other drugs. “Most of the witnesses at the hearing agreed, however, that the use and abuse of performance-enhancing drugs is much more widespread than is generally acknowledged, and that coaches, wittingly or not, may be pressuring athletes into using steroids and other substances” (Suggs).
Values of fair play and honesty are quickly escaping our increasingly cut-throat society. Moreover, in any athletic field, whether professional or college, we need to be reminded that it is just a game used for entertainment, healthy competition, and to celebrate tradition. Steroid users only taint the games and competitions they have come to love and as a result are aiding in their possible decline. So even though an edge may be gained or an advantage inherited, is it worth health, fair play, honesty and more importantly, lives?
References
Suggs, Welch. “Steroids are Rampant Among College Athletes.” Chronicle of Higher Education 50 (2004): pA33-A33
“General Information About Anabolic Steroids.” 4 December 2007
http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/steriods.htm