steroids in sports

By: CJ Scatena

Steroids in sports have been a constant problem in the past decades, but that problem has erupted in today’s society and looks to continue in the future if the leagues and government do not work together in order to impede this issue.

There are a variety of steroids in the world, but the most commonly related to sports would be anabolic steroids.

Anabolic steroids are “steroids that promote tissue growth by creating protein in an attempt to enhance muscle growth.”

They increase the muscle gain that results from strenuous exercise and maximize the impact of a high protein diet. They also reduce the soreness that normally results from strenuous exercise

This allows an athlete using steroids to lift more weight, with less recovery time in between.

Barry Bonds first used steroids to return quicker from his injuries; thus caused his elbow injury because they had made his arm muscles so large that the elbow tendon could not support them

mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and the desire to take more steroids

the average adult male creates 35 to 50 milligrams of testosterone in his testes each week. Athletes who use anabolic steroids may inject 300 to 1,000 milligrams more

1920’s- a scientist named Lavoslav Ruziicka synthesized a purified form of material from bull testicles, and created testosterone

First noted use by Americans was in the 1954 World Weightlifting Champions in Austria.

in 1967, the International Olympic Council banned the use of anabolic steroids and by the mid 1970´s most major sporting organizations had also banned them

In 1982, the IOC had developed the "Testosterone: Epi-testosterone” test which tested for excess levels of testosterone in athletes (Used in Major Sports Presently)

Since National Football league players began undergoing random drug testing in 1989, 111 players have tested positive for steroids. Of those, 54 served four-game suspension, and 57 retired immediately

List of the few wrongdoers caught/suspected of using steroids between 1990-2008

*Mitchell Report*

▪ Barry Bonds*▪ Marion Jones▪ Jose Canseco▪ Mark McGuire▪ Rafael Palmeiro▪ Roger Clemmons*

In Division I sports alone there have been 2,700 more drug users in 2005 than there were in 1997.

This year alone, “5.3 percent of high school girls and 6.8 percent of high school boys have used steroids. Some doctors even estimate that as many as 1 million teens nationwide have tried steroids”

“After constant criticism during a series of congressional hearings on steroids in sports, Major League Baseball owners recently voted unanimously to approve the toughened steroids policy agreed to with the players’ association”

The House of Representatives could vote on a steroid bill as early as this year. One such bill, the clean sports act, calls for athletes to undergo random drug testing at least three times during the season and twice during the off season. Players who test positive would be banned from their sport for two years”

Government and leagues take actionGreat decrease in the number of

steroid usersA new type of drug will be found that

gets by the drug tests

This cycle will only end when there is a test created that catches any and every drug out there

Every player caught with steroids should be punished and watched strictly but not have their records or trophies taken away.

Big does not always mean better; Example: When Arnold Schwarzenegger was Mr. Universe, not even he could hit a 99mph fastball

Barry Bonds before steroids Barry Bonds after steroids