Professional baseball players have been idolized since its introduction into society. Men like George (Babe) Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Lou Gehrig have been viewed as role models who possess superhuman traits. This view has been tainted by one simple factor in modern society. Performance-enhancing drugs have spurred a large epidemic of abuse and illegal use which has women into the fabric of our most beloved pastime. These drugs have now taken away the beauty and glory of natural talent and hard work. Fans and sports enthusiasts now question whether a player is their hero or a common fraud. The game people have come to love will never be the same.
On a very basic understanding “[s]teroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, a male hormone.” (Ringer et al 92) This drug was created to treat unfortunate individuals. “The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other muscle-wasting diseases.” (Effects, 2) Performance-enhancing drugs were not an immediate problem in professional competition. It took an extended period of time to make an impact. “Over the years, a large and profitable PED industry has emerged in the United States.” (Ringer et al 92) The industry would snake its way into the heart of many areas of American life. Performance-enhancing drugs were created with a helpful purpose to change society positively, but negative effects are often overlooked. …show more content…
In common terms PED’s alter the human body at a biological level, increasing athletic performance. (Effects, 1-2) The drugs used do not come at no cost to a user, many harmful side effects come along. From a mental aspect the drugs increase aggressiveness and sexual drive, commonly causing abnormal sexual and criminal behavior. (Effects, 3) On a physical level, performance- enhancing drugs cause acne, male baldness, liver damage, and stunted growth. (Effects, 2) Effects are not always the same, regarding genders, side effects can differ from male to female. Female users can experience a deepening of the voice, ceasing of breast development, growth of hair on face and body, and abnormal menstrual cycle. Males can experience development of breast tissue, the shrinking of testicles, and reduction in sperm production. (Effects, 3) These are not myths that could happen, but are an often occurrence in drug use and abuse. “These drugs can be extremely dangerous and, in certain situations, deadly.” (Effects, 2) After extensive use withdrawal from anabolic steroid use can cause depression which often leads to suicide. This creates not only a physical, but mental need for the drugs, feeding the addiction in both forms. The types of performance-enhancing drugs vary and have a plethora of uses, but “[t]here are approximately 30 types of anabolic steroids, which are the type used by athletes in training.” (Ringer et al 92) Despite baseball being arguably the biggest arena for the use of drugs linked to performance, they were established in the body building community and spread to other sports like football, track, and then baseball. …show more content…
(Ringer et al 92) Once PED’s became available their use in mainstream sports was inevitable. (Ringer et al 95) The biggest concern was that usage could be hidden from the public and even franchise testing. “Growth hormones and insulin were completely undetectable.” (Williams in Ringer, 92) Anyone could see that substances undetectable would reak havok on the testing buisness. The total are affected by use may never be known, because proffesional baseball has many flaws in their systems other than the use itself. Baseball testing destroys almost all drug-testing data, even if identification wasn’t included and substances that trigger positive results are not even names in records. (Verducci 2) If testing cannot be done efficiently and consistently, then it needs to be handled by proffesionals. A very bad practice was atletic trainers, who supplied drugs to players, being given complete acess to all clubhouse facilities. (Verducci 3) The entire scandal could have taken a blow if this was cut off. This also allowed players to be notified in advance of their test date in order to get themselves clean. (Verducci 2) Performance-enhancing drugs may be banned from baseball, but players get caught up in the hype of their positive effects. They are taken
On a very basic understanding “[s]teroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, a male hormone.” (Ringer et al 92) This drug was created to treat unfortunate individuals. “The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other muscle-wasting diseases.” (Effects, 2) Performance-enhancing drugs were not an immediate problem in professional competition. It took an extended period of time to make an impact. “Over the years, a large and profitable PED industry has emerged in the United States.” (Ringer et al 92) The industry would snake its way into the heart of many areas of American life. Performance-enhancing drugs were created with a helpful purpose to change society positively, but negative effects are often overlooked. …show more content…
In common terms PED’s alter the human body at a biological level, increasing athletic performance. (Effects, 1-2) The drugs used do not come at no cost to a user, many harmful side effects come along. From a mental aspect the drugs increase aggressiveness and sexual drive, commonly causing abnormal sexual and criminal behavior. (Effects, 3) On a physical level, performance- enhancing drugs cause acne, male baldness, liver damage, and stunted growth. (Effects, 2) Effects are not always the same, regarding genders, side effects can differ from male to female. Female users can experience a deepening of the voice, ceasing of breast development, growth of hair on face and body, and abnormal menstrual cycle. Males can experience development of breast tissue, the shrinking of testicles, and reduction in sperm production. (Effects, 3) These are not myths that could happen, but are an often occurrence in drug use and abuse. “These drugs can be extremely dangerous and, in certain situations, deadly.” (Effects, 2) After extensive use withdrawal from anabolic steroid use can cause depression which often leads to suicide. This creates not only a physical, but mental need for the drugs, feeding the addiction in both forms. The types of performance-enhancing drugs vary and have a plethora of uses, but “[t]here are approximately 30 types of anabolic steroids, which are the type used by athletes in training.” (Ringer et al 92) Despite baseball being arguably the biggest arena for the use of drugs linked to performance, they were established in the body building community and spread to other sports like football, track, and then baseball. …show more content…
(Ringer et al 92) Once PED’s became available their use in mainstream sports was inevitable. (Ringer et al 95) The biggest concern was that usage could be hidden from the public and even franchise testing. “Growth hormones and insulin were completely undetectable.” (Williams in Ringer, 92) Anyone could see that substances undetectable would reak havok on the testing buisness. The total are affected by use may never be known, because proffesional baseball has many flaws in their systems other than the use itself. Baseball testing destroys almost all drug-testing data, even if identification wasn’t included and substances that trigger positive results are not even names in records. (Verducci 2) If testing cannot be done efficiently and consistently, then it needs to be handled by proffesionals. A very bad practice was atletic trainers, who supplied drugs to players, being given complete acess to all clubhouse facilities. (Verducci 3) The entire scandal could have taken a blow if this was cut off. This also allowed players to be notified in advance of their test date in order to get themselves clean. (Verducci 2) Performance-enhancing drugs may be banned from baseball, but players get caught up in the hype of their positive effects. They are taken