Steroids is Pro Sports
... every beneficial to their goals and soon after began dominating the sport of power lifting, crushing previous world records. 2. By the 1960s, American and British track and field athletes were using anabolic steroids. These drugs were not officially banned, nor were they tested for in international competition until the early 1970s, mainly because a sensitive urine test was not yet available. 3. On March 1st 1991, the Federal Anabolic Control Act was in effect. This put anabolic steroids on the schedule of the Controlled Substance Act, making them an illegal substance without a prescription. Today, there are clinics that will prescribe testosterone and human growth hormone to qualified patients. The only other way to get them is on the black market. II. Consequences of using performance enhancing drugs. A. Enhancing abilities 1. Steroids increase muscle mass and various internal organs, control body fat distribution, and increase bone synthesis and calcium in bone. 2. Growth hormones increase weight and height. This increase in height is very appealing to those athletes who feel that they are not tall enough to successfully compete in sports where height is demanding. B. Adverse affects 1. Although at first performance enhancing drugs seemed to be a breakthrough in sports competition, Dr. Ziegler's dream of producing these miracles for athletes turned into a nightmare. He came to regret his role in the invention of anabolic steroids. He exclaimed to a sports news reports that "I wish I'd never heard the word ‘steroid.’ These kids do not realize the price they'll pay." 2. There are psychological effects associated with steroid use, including a stimulant-like "high" and increased aggressiveness. This might be beneficial for increasing the amount of work done during training and for increasing the intensity of effort during competition. Psychological dependency develops in some users who feel better when they are on the steroids, but become depressed when they are off them. 3. Side effects for all users include blood cysts in the liver, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Steroid use has been known to cause impotence and even death. In young users who have not attained their full height, these steroids can cause the premature stunting of growth. III. Efforts to detour athletes from using performance enhancing drugs. A. Drug testing and bans in professional sports 1. Anabolic steroids are not available without a prescription. However, users buy them on a very active black market that earns an estimated $100 million each year by feeding the users' desire for these drugs. Many efforts have been made to reduce the effectiveness of this illegal activity. Drug testing has effectively reduced the incidence of steroid use in some sports. The National Collegiate Athletic Association and the International Olympic Committee have both instituted stiff penalties for athletes who test positive for steroids. 2. In big time leagues which have made a multi billion dollar industry from professional sports such as the NFL and MLB, there is a sense of cracking down on athletes who use illegal...