The Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Essay

The Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Is the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports dangerous? To what degree do these drugs really enhance strength, size, training ability, and muscular performance? Not only are the answers to these questions still unclear, they are the subjects of deep controversy. In order to understand why we are confronted with the problem of performance-enhancing drug use in athletics today, we must look at the history of the development of anabolic steroids: a group of powerful synthetic chemical compounds that resemble the natural male sex hormones (Schwarzenneger 722). Anabolic steroids were first developed in the 1930s as a therapeutic drug to treat growth hormone replacement in†¦show more content†¦At the 1972 Olympic games, a large number of athletes from a variety of sports were interviewed about their drug use and a total of 68 percent admitted to using anabolic steroids (Schwarzenneger 723). Throughout the 1960?s, 1970?s, and 1980?s, additional forms of anabolic steroids were developed despite a number of scientific studies being conducted on the effectiveness and dangers of their use (et. al.). Today, it is common knowledge that steroids cause some bodily harm. However, not everyone is familiar with the extent of the possible side effects. Listed below are several examples: (Meoreira de Araujo 5).  · Altered liver function caused by the stress placed on the liver while trying to remove steroids from the blood.  · Jaundice, peliosis hepatitis, hemorrhaging, and liver cancer are possible with prolonged use.  · Alteration of cardiovascular function: Effects include changes in the clotting of blood, atherosclerosis, and higher levels of cholesterol.  · Reduction of natural testosterone production.  · Increase of male sexual characteristics in females, such as, increased body hair, atrophied breasts, and deepening of the voice.  · Gastrointestinal disorders, including loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating.  · Muscle cramps  ·Show MoreRelatedThe Use Of Performance Enhancing Drugs Within Sports1966 Words   |  8 Pages Legalization of Performance Enhancing Drugs within Sports Do you want to want to become the peak athlete that you know your body is capable of? Well, this paper will not do that for you, but it will tell you how, and it will tell you why it should be legal to do so. Doping in sports is one of the most extensive debates within the realm of athletics. Whether it be injecting anabolic steroids, consuming them, or blood doping, athletes will do drugs. Doping has no effect on the viewershipRead More The Use of Steroids and Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports1507 Words   |  7 Pagesto write my paper on the topic of steroids and performance enhancing substances that are used today in sports. In this paper I hope to focus on the steroids and performance enhancing drugs and how they have become a problem in sports.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An anabolic steroid is a substance that is related to male sex hormones, known as testosterone. The word â€Å"Anabolic† means muscle building. The word â€Å"steroids† is just referred to as a drug name or a class of drug. Some athletes have made the decision that theyRead MoreThe Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Today1583 Words   |  6 Pages Performance enhancers are very prominent in professional sports today. A lot of players are facing suspensions and other penalties for using them. The sport that gets scrutinized the most for this is Baseball. Many former users in the MLB (or formally the NABBP) have come out saying that they were using these drugs while playing. Some of these players are Jorge Sosa, Antonio Bastardo, and the famous Alex Rodriguez. Although these drugs have been prohibited, players are still finding ways aroundRead More Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Essay2025 Words   |  9 PagesThe use of perfor mance enhancing drugs in sports (doping) is done to improve athletic performance. Doping in sports has become a highly controversial topic among professional sporting venues and in the media. With the increased pressure to perform, high priced contracts, increased competition, and advanced training methods today’s athletes will try to gain an edge by any means necessary. Performance enhancing drugs used by athletes today include Human Growth Hormone (HGH), anabolic steroids, peptideRead MoreUse Of Performance Enhancing Drugs1338 Words   |  6 PagesFinal Draft The Use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports According to NPR.com, the argument over the use of performance-enhancing drugs by professional athletes has been at the center of an international ethical debate for many years (Katz). Many people argue that these drugs should be allowed, while others argue that these drugs should be banned from professional sports. Professional sports athletes should avoid the use of performance-enhancing drugs so that the integrity of sports will not beRead MoreElite Athletes and Performance Enhancing Drugs1817 Words   |  7 PagesElite Athletes: An Asset or Liability to Sports? Many elite athletes are under great pressure to perform exceptionally well they often times resort to using performance-enhancing drugs to stay competitive. The path to success as an athlete is not an easy track; it is fierce! The fame and the fortune one can attain from being an athlete is only unimaginable to some; it is something worth going the extra mile to reach, for some, there is no limit to the extra mile. After all, in today’s society theRead MoreDoping And Performance Enhancing Drugs1262 Words   |  6 Pagesathletes who have had their reputations tarnished by using performance enhancing drugs (sometimes shortened to PEDs). In his interview with Opera Winfrey, Armstrong stated that â€Å"I didn t view [doping] [as cheating]. I viewed it as a level playing field† (Lance). With this statement, Armstrong is declaring that many professional cyclists and other professional athletes engage in illegal doping in order to improve their performances. These drugs can b e useful for their ability to decrease recovery timeRead MoreWhy Performance Enhancement Drugs Use Essay1142 Words   |  5 PagesWhy are performance enhancement drugs use in professional sports? The use of steroids has been a major problem among sports and has caused lots of controversy. Although these professional sports organizations such as the NFL, NHL, NBA and several others have spent time and money investigating athletes for uses of performance enhancement drugs, nothing has been done to erase records or record breaking statistics. In order to cease steroid and other performance enhancement drug users from cheatingRead MoreEssay on Performance Enhancing Drugs Among Athletes935 Words   |  4 Pagescentury, performance enhancing drugs have become a religious practice in â€Å"the lives of some sport figures.† The use of these supplements have given athletes an edge to perform at maximum capability. Most major athletes all agree on the fact that the competitive drive is intensely fierce. Despite all, most athletes have high hopes of attaining prestigious awards, a full ride college scholarship or the once in a lifetime opportunity to play for a professional team. In such instances, the use of performance-enhancingRead MoreThe Benefits of Performance Enhancing Drugs Among Athletes Essay1044 Words   |  5 PagesSince the dawn of the twenty-first century, performance enhancing drugs have become a religious practice in â€Å"the lives of some sport figures.† The use of these supplements have given the user an edge, an edge to perform at maximum capability. Most major athletes all agree on the fact that the competitive drive to win can be quite intense. Besides the satisfaction of personal accomplishment, athletes commonly pursue high hopes of attaining a medal, a college scholarship or the once in a lifetime opportunity