Astrosdawg07
12-04-2007, 10:02 PM
Please read and tell me what yall think....
Andrew Chesnut
Freshman Seminar Univ. 1300.06
Dr. Supek
December 5, 2007
Athletes and Steroids
In the world of sports, athletes are rewarded for their production and nothing else. They are not paid to look good or dress well, but instead they are paid strictly on their performance. As quick as one is judged strong, they can be viewed weak in the same amount of time, or less. So an athlete is constantly working to get better and be more productive. In order to gain that extra advantage, some athletes may turn to steroids. Steroids are available to anyone considering there is no age limit set on the sell of supplements, which can be bought at most local drug stores.
“ANYBODY CAN TAKE DRUGS AND WIN” (Gatlin). Steroids are otherwise known as “performance enhancing drugs”, and that is exactly what they are. They allow a person to increase endurance, which allows longer periods of exercise and improves the results of strength training. This is because steroids increase both the size (mass) of muscles and the number of muscle fibers. This gives users an unfair physical advantage. One of the reasons athletes turn towards steroids is because they are responding to encouragement, social pressure, and their own desire to excel, as well as admonitions from coaches to put on muscle and build strength and resilience (Ungerleider). It is the physical advantage that attracts athletes to steroids. However, since steroids are illegal in most sports, it truly gives the users an unfair advantage over the non-users who are abiding by the rules.
While Steven Ungerleider asserts that steroid use is becoming more pervasive in sports, it also has many risky side effects, such as aggression and high blood pressure. (Ungerleider) Other side effects can include: reduced sperm production, shrunken testicles, impotence, irreversible breast enlargement, and an increased danger of heart attacks, strokes, and liver cancer. It can even affect the bone growth in adolescents. (Ungerleider)
Even with these possible side affects, steroids and other supplements are still easily accessible to consumers. Consumers can walk into their local nutrition store and buy products that can have steroids, harmful health affects. (Hale) Some may argue that tobacco products can have the same effect, but at least buyers have to be eighteen years of age. At this time there are no current age limits to buying most supplements.
With all the facts that point towards steroids being considerably harmful to ones health, there are still some taking the position that the risk of taking steroids are being blown out of proportion. Rick Collins, a body builder and defense attorney in New York, states that health risks of steroid use have been exaggerated. Collins believes the medical establishment’s characterization of steroids as being dangerous is a scare tactic promulgated to preserve the “purity” of athletic competition.” (Collins) Collins also points out that accusations that steroids can cause injuries is also falsely made, stating that it is not unreasonable to expect muscle and tendon tears in hardcore strength athletes, regardless of steroid use.
No matter what side you take on whether steroids are illegal, one issue that both sides need to address is the fact that the steroid craze has not only infested professional sports, but also the academic level athletics. “High school athletes are increasingly turning to steroids as a way to improve their performances and gain the strength and endurance needed to train year-round.” (Schwab) In addition, there are athletes at a lower socio-economic level who believe they have no other opportunities unless they earn an athletic scholarship. These are scary facts if steroids are relied upon, and that is what most research has found. So if steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are truly dangerous to our health, why as a nation, are we allowing our youth access to such harmful substances? The fact of the matter is most high school athletes will not even compete past high school athletics. So are the potential dangers to their health worth the fame of just high school success? I do not believe they are.
So who does the task of stepping in halting the use of steroids for athletic competition? Many argue that it is up to the coaches and fellow role models to set the example and get steroids out of sports, but others say as a nation our national leaders need to step in.
As Ralph W. Hale said, “Despite the dangerous side effects of steroid precursors, (dietary supplements that metabolize into steroids after they are ingested), these products can be purchased readily throughout the United States. Adolescent athletes are particularly tempted to use steroid precursors in order to improve their performance and to achieve the “perfect” body. The federal government must take action to regulate the sale of precursors and prevent new versions from entering the market.”(Egendorf) There is simply no reason supporting the over-the-counter availability of products containing steroid supplements. (Egendorf) When all is said and done, vendors are going to supply what sells, and as long as steroids are still legal, vendors will keep selling the products. It is all about the money in business, not ethics.
Although we have no true hard core facts on steroids, we can only go by what research points towards, and that is steroids are dangerous. As a nation we need to stand together and not only protect our youth of America, but also the integrity of athletics. It is always better to be on the safe side of caution. So if it is not feasible to remove all steroids off the shelves in nutrition stores, then an appropriate age limit should be instituted to buy them. This would at least protect our youth for a short while until we have hardcore facts on the matter of steroids.
Citations
Source Citations:
Collins, Rick “The Health Risks of Steroid Use Have Been Exaggerated.”
Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003.
Gendin, Sidney. “Ban Athletes Who Don’t Use Steroids” Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003.
Hale, Ralph W. “Congress Must Legistlate Against Steroid Precursors.” At Issue: Steroids. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006
Schwab, Greg. “Steroid Use Among HIgh School Athletes Is a Growing Problem.” At Issue: Steroids. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006
Willey, David Runner’s World, Oct2006, Vol 41 Issue 10, p20, 1p
Ungerleider, Steven. “Steroids Are Dangerous.” Drug Abuse. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005.
Andrew Chesnut
Freshman Seminar Univ. 1300.06
Dr. Supek
December 5, 2007
Athletes and Steroids
In the world of sports, athletes are rewarded for their production and nothing else. They are not paid to look good or dress well, but instead they are paid strictly on their performance. As quick as one is judged strong, they can be viewed weak in the same amount of time, or less. So an athlete is constantly working to get better and be more productive. In order to gain that extra advantage, some athletes may turn to steroids. Steroids are available to anyone considering there is no age limit set on the sell of supplements, which can be bought at most local drug stores.
“ANYBODY CAN TAKE DRUGS AND WIN” (Gatlin). Steroids are otherwise known as “performance enhancing drugs”, and that is exactly what they are. They allow a person to increase endurance, which allows longer periods of exercise and improves the results of strength training. This is because steroids increase both the size (mass) of muscles and the number of muscle fibers. This gives users an unfair physical advantage. One of the reasons athletes turn towards steroids is because they are responding to encouragement, social pressure, and their own desire to excel, as well as admonitions from coaches to put on muscle and build strength and resilience (Ungerleider). It is the physical advantage that attracts athletes to steroids. However, since steroids are illegal in most sports, it truly gives the users an unfair advantage over the non-users who are abiding by the rules.
While Steven Ungerleider asserts that steroid use is becoming more pervasive in sports, it also has many risky side effects, such as aggression and high blood pressure. (Ungerleider) Other side effects can include: reduced sperm production, shrunken testicles, impotence, irreversible breast enlargement, and an increased danger of heart attacks, strokes, and liver cancer. It can even affect the bone growth in adolescents. (Ungerleider)
Even with these possible side affects, steroids and other supplements are still easily accessible to consumers. Consumers can walk into their local nutrition store and buy products that can have steroids, harmful health affects. (Hale) Some may argue that tobacco products can have the same effect, but at least buyers have to be eighteen years of age. At this time there are no current age limits to buying most supplements.
With all the facts that point towards steroids being considerably harmful to ones health, there are still some taking the position that the risk of taking steroids are being blown out of proportion. Rick Collins, a body builder and defense attorney in New York, states that health risks of steroid use have been exaggerated. Collins believes the medical establishment’s characterization of steroids as being dangerous is a scare tactic promulgated to preserve the “purity” of athletic competition.” (Collins) Collins also points out that accusations that steroids can cause injuries is also falsely made, stating that it is not unreasonable to expect muscle and tendon tears in hardcore strength athletes, regardless of steroid use.
No matter what side you take on whether steroids are illegal, one issue that both sides need to address is the fact that the steroid craze has not only infested professional sports, but also the academic level athletics. “High school athletes are increasingly turning to steroids as a way to improve their performances and gain the strength and endurance needed to train year-round.” (Schwab) In addition, there are athletes at a lower socio-economic level who believe they have no other opportunities unless they earn an athletic scholarship. These are scary facts if steroids are relied upon, and that is what most research has found. So if steroids and other performance enhancing drugs are truly dangerous to our health, why as a nation, are we allowing our youth access to such harmful substances? The fact of the matter is most high school athletes will not even compete past high school athletics. So are the potential dangers to their health worth the fame of just high school success? I do not believe they are.
So who does the task of stepping in halting the use of steroids for athletic competition? Many argue that it is up to the coaches and fellow role models to set the example and get steroids out of sports, but others say as a nation our national leaders need to step in.
As Ralph W. Hale said, “Despite the dangerous side effects of steroid precursors, (dietary supplements that metabolize into steroids after they are ingested), these products can be purchased readily throughout the United States. Adolescent athletes are particularly tempted to use steroid precursors in order to improve their performance and to achieve the “perfect” body. The federal government must take action to regulate the sale of precursors and prevent new versions from entering the market.”(Egendorf) There is simply no reason supporting the over-the-counter availability of products containing steroid supplements. (Egendorf) When all is said and done, vendors are going to supply what sells, and as long as steroids are still legal, vendors will keep selling the products. It is all about the money in business, not ethics.
Although we have no true hard core facts on steroids, we can only go by what research points towards, and that is steroids are dangerous. As a nation we need to stand together and not only protect our youth of America, but also the integrity of athletics. It is always better to be on the safe side of caution. So if it is not feasible to remove all steroids off the shelves in nutrition stores, then an appropriate age limit should be instituted to buy them. This would at least protect our youth for a short while until we have hardcore facts on the matter of steroids.
Citations
Source Citations:
Collins, Rick “The Health Risks of Steroid Use Have Been Exaggerated.”
Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003.
Gendin, Sidney. “Ban Athletes Who Don’t Use Steroids” Performance-Enhancing Drugs. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003.
Hale, Ralph W. “Congress Must Legistlate Against Steroid Precursors.” At Issue: Steroids. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006
Schwab, Greg. “Steroid Use Among HIgh School Athletes Is a Growing Problem.” At Issue: Steroids. Ed. Laura K. Egendorf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006
Willey, David Runner’s World, Oct2006, Vol 41 Issue 10, p20, 1p
Ungerleider, Steven. “Steroids Are Dangerous.” Drug Abuse. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005.