The Relationship between Athletes and Performance-Enhancing Drugs or Steroids - Research Paper Example

06 May Steroids and athletic culture: Much has been written about the relationship between athletes and performance-enhancing drugs or steroids. This subject has always remained in vogue due to its notorious nature and huge implications for society. It must be remembered that there are many kinds of performance-enhancing drugs available today which athletes can easily purchase using illegal means. Such drugs are used by athletes to enhance performance during high intensity physical exertion. Doping in sports is a very serious issue of sociological importance. Drugs used to acquire an unfair competitive edge over rivals are banned and their possession is enough to dismiss an athlete for life. Actually, the world of sports is characterized by such fierce competitiveness that it becomes a highly painstaking job for many athletes to say no to drugs. Doping has never remained out of practice and has always gone hand in hand with sports. Since ancient times, people have been using steroids to gain an unfair advantage in games. This research paper seeks to illuminate the reality of this claims that steroids and professional sports are inextricably linked to each other so much so that drugs form an important factor which characterizes our athletic culture. The earliest known evidence of steroid use in the athletic word dates back to ancient Greek times when the Greek athletes seeking to raise their testosterone levels used to consume the testicle of their sheep (Klug). As drugs have remained involved with sports since the time games were invented, the concerns introduced by frequent use of steroids have also been around for a quite a long time. Steroid use is unfortunately again on the rise among athletes (Klug). Research claims that anabolic steroids have attracted an avalanche of criticism and disapproval from opponents of performance enhancing drugs over the last 50 years (Hoffman and Ratamess 182). Another report also confirms that evidence of athlete use of anabolic steroids “has been available since the 1950s” (Angell et al.). When Boje became the first person to announce in 1939 that exogenous testosterone administration revolutionizes athletic performance, only a decade later testosterone compounds began to be widely used by body builders (Hoffman and Ratamess 183). The war against doping started in the 1960s in response to several events which occurred in the 1954 world weightlifting championships. Also, the Olympic Games held in 1960 saw many unfortunate and untimely demises brought about by drug abuse (Klug). These events were based on anabolic steroid abuse (Hoffman and Ratamess 183). The fight against steroids was championed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which also became the first sports organization in the world to perform doping control procedures. These procedures were performed at the 1967 Olympic Games held in Mexico. Some years later, androgenic-anabolic steroids got completely banned and they were put in the list of banned substances. Such measures began to be taken by sports organizations around the globe after steroid use became rampant among athletes. Despite the fact that the war started many decades back to control the steroid epidemic, only some years ago sports governing agencies in North America agreed on punishing those athletes “who test positive for anabolic steroids” (Hoffman and Ratamess 182). After all this time, anabolic steroids are the only performance-enhancing drugs which have by far remained “the most detected doping substances in IOC-accredited laboratories” (Hartgens and Kuipers 515). Excessive use of anabolic steroids by athletes completely damages their psyche. This is because they are rendered unable to function without the magic of steroids. Steroid use is considered highly notorious around the globe because of this strong potential to turn people into addicts. Physical workout or exercise can be a very demanding and strenuous experience for many and everyone does that in the world of sports. This is why some pursue doping to gain a competitive edge. It is important to appreciate such factors which cause athletes to devalue the potential damages associated with steroids (Hoffman and Ratamess 182). In their attempt to develop more stamina and to become distinguished among a sea of fellow athletes, steroid use which begins casually soon develops into a full-blown addiction which is an important social concern. Families are disrupted, careers are destroyed, children become parentless, and futures are ruined by steroid use in the world of sports. Each of these issues has grave ramifications for society. While steroids have a limited advantage in that they improve an athlete’s mood, stamina, and physical appearance for a short time, the long-term effects are of such heinous nature that people are left physically and emotionally drained. The medical community has to date presented many such well-publicized health damages related to anabolic steroid abuse (Hoffman and Ratamess 182). Androgenic-anabolic steroids which are synthetic variants of testosterone are used by athletes to boost performance. Peer pressure is significantly responsible in this context which causes many athletes to comply with this controversial aspect of athletic culture. Steroids in the form of powerful external forces escalate an individual’s performance during high-intensity physical exercises. Since anabolic steroids are synthetically derived from human male sex hormone testosterone (Hoffman and Ratamess 182), their application is found in a plethora of medical conditions. Everyone is aware of the fact that steroids derived from testosterone increase the lean body mass resulting in a muscle hypertrophy response which is related to the amount of dose taken by a person (Angell et al.). Such effects not only facilitate athletes in acquiring an unfair advantage, they also boost their physical appearance winning them praise and recognition from admirers. In a very short time, athletes begin to notice substantial improvement in their bodyweight and strength upon regular administration of steroids. But, they also become sexually very aggressive (Hartgens and Kuipers 514). Modification in behavior in terms of aggression is one of the main consequences of anabolic steroid abuse (Hoffman and Ratamess 183). The reason why steroids exert such an overwhelmingly strong influence on the world of sports is that they deliver highly coveted results in the form of increase in strength and bodyweight. Research also confirms that steroids promise increase in strength from 5 to 20 % of the original body strength and increase in bodyweight anywhere from 2 to 5 kg which comes from improved lean body mass (Hartgens and Kuipers 514). Athletes are always looking for shortcuts and such increased bodyweight and strength in a shockingly short time makes it particularly difficult to resist steroids. Highly attractive qualities of steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs are the reason why many pharmaceutical products containing these substances have been used by many athletes “both openly (legally) and in a clandestine manner” (Angell et al.). In a significant number of athletes who abuse anabolic steroids, reverse anorexia syndrome has been noticed which occurs due to “dissatisfaction with the body and low self-esteem” (Hartgens and Kuipers 515). Other adverse effects of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs include but are not limited to high blood pressure, hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular complications, weakening of muscles, tendon rupture, and potentially devastating psychological dependence on steroids (Hoffman and Ratamess 185). Research confirms irreversible damage occurring from anabolic steroid abuse in athletes. Many years after discontinuation of steroid abuse, strength athletes still show high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (Urhausen et al. 496). Tendon ruptures have been frequently reported by anabolic steroid users (Hoffman and Ratamess 187). Research also shows that regular use of steroids by athletes in addition to reducing the size of testicles, causes men to develop large breasts (gynecomastia) and suffer from excruciating pain when urinating (Hoffman and Ratamess 184). It is claimed that gynecomastia has “a prevalence rate of 37% in anabolic steroid users” (O’Sullivan et al. cited in Hoffman and Ratamess 187). Different types of side-effects are introduced in women by steroids. Steroid abuse is known to promote and develop male sex characteristics in abusers (Hoffman and Ratamess 182). For example, some of the most popular side-effects include hoarse voice, male pattern baldness, menstrual irregularities, excessive facial hair, and limp breasts. Some side-effects of steroids noticed in both sexes encompass quick weight gain, liver failure, skin complications like rash and acne, premature hair loss and whitening, heart murmurs, increased cholesterol level, and constant nausea. Athletes using steroids also put themselves at higher risk of sudden death. Research confirms that the risk of sudden death among the steroid consuming athletes is particularly high due to cardiovascular complications (Hoffman and Ratamess 185). Another report also claims that death can occur either suddenly or “be related to the chronic damage of vital organs” (Paolo et al. 114). One particularly devastating outcome of the relationship between steroids and athletic culture is noticed in the form of damaged youth. More than 16% of high school students in the US are known to use “synthetic versions of testosterone” (Klug). Steroids are most commonly used by younger athletes in hopes to boost performance. Several research surveys have confirmed that anabolic steroid use “is prevalent among adolescent athletes, particularly those in high school” (Potteiger and Stilger 60). It is claimed that some negative effects related to steroid use are more commonly found among adolescent athletes. For example, the probability of premature epiphyseal plate closure is higher “for the adolescent athletes using anabolic steroids” (Hoffman and Ratamess 186). Such young adults have highly impressionable minds and they are more likely than older adults to become victims of doping. Steroids most commonly used by such people in the highly exacting field of sports include anabolic steroids and other steroid precursors (Mayo Clinic Staff). There is no denying this fact that anabolic steroids very effectively enhance “muscle strength and lean tissue accruement” (Hoffman and Ratamess 188). This is why they are enthusiastically bought by young athletes to increase body strength and build muscles in a short time. Anabolic steroids elevate the level of estrogens in the body which causes “premature closure of the growth plate” (Hoffman and Ratamess 186). In addition to impeding bone growth, steroids are also known to negatively interfere with body stature. At the cost of increased muscle mass which is short-lived because no real training is involved, steroids bring potential damages to multiple organs eventually. Steroid precursors, like anabolic steroids, also function by increasing muscle mass in the users. Although they also have a place in the list of banned substances, yet dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) which is a steroid precursor is generally available in the form of over-the-counter (OTC) formulas. Same side-effects are associated with DHEA as have already been discussed regarding other steroids in the research paper. It is important to develop familiarity with myriad causes which drive athletes to become dependent on steroids and a part of drug culture. In addition to the necessity of winning at all costs, athletes are also known for dealing with body image issues. Such issues urge them to rely on steroids to win acclaim and respect from people in hopes to boost their dwindling self-esteem. Athletes also become a part of drug culture to experience the glorious feelings brought by personal achievement upon winning a medal. Many other such reasons for using steroids are also given by young athletes like to look bigger and stronger, to impress girls, and peer pressure (Klug). Concluding, steroids have formed a big part of the athletic culture as far back as one can remember. Anabolic steroids are most commonly used by boxers, weightlifters, and football players who fail to realize that steroid use hinders bone growth among many other potential health risks. This is because steroids offer athletes what other drugs offer common people, a short-term relief in the form of enhanced performance. There is no substitute for real hard work, but it takes months and even years to develop body that way. Athletes fall for steroids because they offer the desired results in a short time. However, steroids in the façade of high performance actually introduce the body to many deleterious effects. This is because use of anabolic steroids is found to be associated with many different well-publicized psychological and physiological effects that are extremely negative for the health. The number one cause behind steroid abuse by athletes which is also the most powerful is based on the impossibly fierce drive to win. This drive to win is found in all people, but it can be surprisingly strong in people belonging to the world of sports. Works cited: Angell, Peter J., et al. “Performance enhancing drug abuse and cardiovascular risk in athletes: implications for the clinician.” Br J Sports Med 46 (2012): 178-184. Web. 06 May. 2015. Hartgens, Fred, and Kuipers, Harm. “Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes.” Sports Medicine 34.8 (2004): 513-554. Hoffman, Jay R., and Ratamess, Nicholas A. “MEDICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ANABOLIC STEROID USE: ARE THEY EXAGGERATED?” Journal of Sports Science and Medicine 5 (2006): 182-193. Klug, K.M. “Steroids in Sports: Adolescent Use, Abuse, Education and Treatment.” Journal of Addictive Disorders (2004). Web. 06 May. 2015. Mayo Clinic Staff. Performance-enhancing drugs and teen athletes. Mayoclinic.org, 2015. Web. 06 May. 2015. Paolo, Marco D. et al. “Sudden anabolic steroid abuse-related death in athletes.” International Journal of Cardiology 114 (2007): 114-117. Potteiger, Jeffrey A., and Stilger, Vincent G. “Anabolic Steroid Use in the Adolescent Athlete.” J Athl Train. 29.1 (1994): 60-62. Urhausen, A., Albers, T., and Kindermann, W. “Are the cardiac effects of anabolic steroid abuse in strength athletes reversible?” Heart 90.5 (2004): 496-501. Read More