Performance enhancing drugs in Sport

In the fall of 1996, Newsweek magazine ran a cover story on testosterone and its effects on aging. According to the article, men who take testosterone can stave off some of the effects of getting older, including loss of muscle mass, strength, energy, and libido. What was most interesting was that the widespread use of testosterone in athletes was not mentioned at all! Yet testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, is the basis for all anabolic steroids. Also in the fall of 1996, several news magazines featured stories about the increase in recreational drug use, heroin specifically, among youth. After a decline of several years in the use of this dangerous drug, teenagers are again experimenting. With the emphasis in recent years on anti-drug campaigns, how was it possible that anyone missed the message that heroin is a life wrecker and a killer? How are these separate messages about different types of drug use tied together? They are associated because these articles illustrate the American ambivalence about drug taking. As a nation, we rely heavily on pills. Many people take vitamins and other so-called supplements such as creatine, DHEA, and melatonin in dosages that constitute drug treatment. It would be possible to conclude from advertising that nothing in the human body works very well and must always be assisted by medications. We fear aging and psychological distress, and we believe drugs can help. You may be surprised to learn that Americans have been strug-rngling with drug control problems for more than 100 years. For a brief period at the turn of the century, cocaine was even legal in the United States. At the time of the Civil War, a number of people were addicted to an opium-based preparation. track if some horses were doped and others were not. What .rntreat pain and discomfort. One researcher has suggested that mood alteration is a human drive, and if that is so, it may be difficult to everrnUntil the advent of modern chemistry, physical alteration throughrnchildren born with the 5kits genetic code for dwarfism can be treated withrntheir sports performance. In a drug-tolerant society, many people notrnonly don't care, they don't understand why it should be a matter ofrnnation of entertainment and big business, and the important itemsrnpublic concern. Some fans reason that sports have become a combi-rnare good matchups, action, outstanding performances, and appeal-rntake drugs to make the magic happen, what's the difference?rnNow think about what sports represents: the finest in physicalrnwith no objections because everyone agrees that it wouldn't be a levelrnto an opium-based preparationrnstop recreational drug use completely.rnhuman growth hormones and develop normallyrn. The sex hormonesrnthat are responsible for changing boys to men at pubertyrnin synthetic form by adult males and females to gain strength andrnpower; this has been happening in the athletic community for morernThere are two important things to bear in mind about takingrnhormones. First, they are very powerful drugs that affect both mindrnand body, and we do not know what their long-term effects may be.rnCertainly, there are some mostly reversible short-term negativerneffects. Second, when elite athletes take drugs in secret to enhancerntheir physical sports performance, they alter the whole nature of thernsports contest.rnThe fact that these drugs are dangerous is not the only reason to barrnthem. Many sports carry an inherent risk of injury-look at bobsled-rnding, skiing, football, gymnastics, and wrestling, just to name a few.rnHowever, suppose that a drug that made athletes faster was avail-rnable. A cross-country skier who had invested 20 years in learning hisrnsport would certainly be heartbroken to be beaten by a skier whosernperformance was improved with such a drug. Is that a fair contest?rnIs that what we want from sports?rnAsk yourself if you care whether professional, Olympic,rncollege athletes use anabolic steroids and other drugs to enhancernor evenrnand striving and will. -rnthe point of such a contest?