Why Do Male Athletes Use Steroids?

Male athletes have a high risk of developing traits and medical issues that can be avoided by the use of drug testing. As the use of drugs increase within male athletes due to rising standards from society and competition, many face the pressing issue of developing traits that are not common to men, such as the development of breasts and higher voices(“Drugs and Athletes”), as well as conditions that affect the body physically and psychologically. Although different drugs come with different side effects, many drugs share common side effects which “have the ability or potential to drastically alter the human body and biological functions…[which] can be extremely dangerous and, in certain situations, deadly” (“Effects of Performance-Enhancing Drugs | USADA”). These changes can affect their lives outside the realm of sports, which can ruin their career and their life if drug use …show more content…
Psychologically, males tend to experience “increased aggressiveness and sexual appetite, sometimes resulting in abnormal sexual and criminal behavior, often referred to as “Roid Rage””, and depression and anxiety resulting from withdrawal of such steroids, which in severe cases can lead to suicide. This displays the dependency athletes have on such drugs which deteriorate an athlete’s health quickly. The story of star baseball player at Plano West Senior High School, Taylor Hooton,exemplifies the negative impacts drugs have psychologically, due to him committing suicide at the ripe age of 17 due to the depression he experienced from withdrawing from steroids (Jere Longman). Drug testing can help prevent these developments and changes in behavior and psych due to it banning athletes athletes from participating in competitions regarding their sport. Athletes thrive on the idea of winning, so this consequence creates an incentive for many athletes to decrease their reliance on drugs to enhance performance which in turn decreases the chances of athletes developing these problems in the