The Use of Steroids in Sports

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Peanuts, hot dogs, the cracking sound of a bat crushing a ball over the left field wall. The ability to thrill so many on limitless levels is a familiar characteristic associated sports. So much attention, time, and money are devoted to sports these days, maybe even too much. Perhaps all the pressure is what has sparked steroid use in sports and stimulated numerous controversies over the subject. The use of steroids is an unfair training method for sports. Unfairness is contrary to laws, marked by deception, and unethical. When the legality, lack of work and advantageousness, and cheating are examined it is easy to see how steroids are extremely unfair in more than one way.
First of all, the use of steroids is an unfair training method because steroids themselves are very illegal. “Steroids are illegal in the United States unless prescribed by a doctor for a known medical condition.” (SI.com) If steroids are illegal it is obvious you should not have them or be using them at all. Steroids are an illegal drug, just like marijuana and cocaine. Society looks down on drug addicts and sentences them to jail, but how much different are steroids. These illegal drugs are all the same, they are illegal, bad for your health, and can cause serious addictions. Steroids are not any less minor a penalty than other illegal drugs. Yes athletes do have a right to privacy like all other citizens, but by playing professional sports they are putting themselves at risk of losing privacy and they know it. Whenever you become famous you still have your rights, but with those rights athletes still must accept responsibility for all rights, not only the ones they want to have to protect themselves. Texas law states that penalties for possession of any prohibited substance are based on the weight of the substances in grams. (Steroid.com) The only reason steroids would be legal is by a doctor’s prescription, because of the numerous health risks you take while using steroids. So if steroids are just as illegal as any other drug and pose numerous health risks, how can they be acceptable for professional sports? Not only are steroids illegal in sports in this country, but the past few Olympics have had controversies over the use of steroids. The rest of the world looks down upon steroid use and considers their use illegal in sports. Many professional sports ...

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...level. It is unethical to cheat record holders out of their glory through use of steroids, not to mention its illegal in numerous sports. Not only are steroids cheating in sports, but they are cheating the youth out of true role models and heroes. The youth of this nation used to be able to look up to athletes, but that is certainly out of the question with big sports names having to testify in court hearings and have arguably covered behind the scene acts to protect reputations.
Why are we so fascinated and obsessed with sports? It is the athlete’s ability to entertain us, astound us, and astonish us. It is not the athlete’s ability to use performance enhancing drugs. Everyone struggles at points in their lives or careers, but breaking regulations and deception are not the answers to anything. Steroids are unfair when the dishonesty and validity are forfeited. If at first you don’t succeed, don’t resort to steroids.

Works Cited:

Cohen, John. “Poll: Americans Support Punishment for Steroid Use.” ABC News. 2005 22 Mar. 2005 .

Collins, Rick. “Maximum Juice Punishment.” Steroid.com. 2003. 21 Mar. 2005 .

Sports Illustrated. “Caminiti Comes Clean.” SI.com. 2002. 21 Mar. 2005
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