Steroid in Sports
The phrase,
life is not fair, is a very true saying. It is true in life as well as other
things you may encounter in your lifetime, including sports. The sports world
is not exactly fair due to many reasons, especially because of legal and
illegal steroid use. There are different types of steroids used in sports, and
most are very controversial, many different groups use them as well. Finally,
they have many harmful side-affects.
An anabolic steroid is a one of a group of synthetic steroid
hormones that promote growth of muscles, as well as other tissue in the body
(White). Another steroid is Androstenedione (andro), and it is a steroid that
the human body changes into testosterone, and that is produced in the body in
small amounts, coming from the gonads and adrenal gland. The continuing through
the liver where it is formed into testosterone by an enzyme, then the
testosterone promotes growth of muscle by helping “stockpile” nitrogen (Schrof
1). Also, another steroid is creatine, it is an amino acid that is produced in
small amounts by the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, also it helps muscles
replenish adenosine triphosphate. Creatine is popular weight gaining supplement
used by many different groups of athletes. It is not unusual for beginning
users to gain 20-30 pounds in the first few months of usage. Creatine helps the
athlete bulk up weight and then work to turn it to muscle. Blood Doping is
another form of steroid use. It is where blood that has a high count of oxygen
is removed from the body after a workout, and replaced into the athlete weeks
later just before a performance to insure high adrenaline levels of play (Brown
pg.2).
The typical steroid user is the middle class white male
(Schrof #2). Athletes of all levels use steroids, most beginning at the high
school level. In Oregon in 1992, 6% of all high school football players
admitted to trying steroids at least once in their careers (no author). Females
are also abusers of steroids, over 175,000 female high school athletes have admitted
to using steroids at least once. That is 1.4% of all the female athletes in the
U.S.(White).
Steroids are full of unhealthy side-affects. There are many
short terms as well as long term affects. Some of the short-term affects is
that the extra amount of testosterone from steroids can cause acne, fits of
rage, baldness at an early age, development of breasts in men, sterility, and
can cause puberty to stop (Schrof 1). Also females who use steroids encounter
shrinkage of breasts, male-like hair growth, as well as male patterned
baldness, voice deepening, and abnormalities in their menstrual cycle (White
pg1). The long-term affects of steroid usage can be things such as
cardiovascular disease, liver as well as reproductive dysfunction, and
increased aggressive behavior in a person. Also sever psychological problems
may occur, some even resulting in the death of the user (no author).
The sports world is not exactly fair, and steroid usage is a
main reason for that. There are different types of steroids used in sports, and
most are very controversial, many different groups use them as well. Finally,
they have many harmful side-affects. So there is definitely a problem with
this, and it has been a controversial issue for years and probably always will
be.
The text steroid in sports tells about kinds of steroids and
the use of it in sports. There are different types of steroids with the
different purpose. In the U.S. most athletes of all levels use steroids to
improve their ability in sports. However, steroids have side affects. There are
short term and long term affects. Some of the short-term affects can cause
acne, fits of rage, baldness at an early age, development of breast, sterility
and can cause puberty to stop for male. Also for female it can cause shrinkage
of breast, male-like hair growth, as well as male patterned baldness, voice
deepening, and abnormalities in their menstrual cycle. In addition to, the
long-term affects of steroid usage can make cardiovascular disease, liver as
well as reproductive dysfunction and increased aggressive behavior in a person.
The worst effect can result in the death of the user.
The Purpose of the Text
is
To inform
the reader about types of steroids and the purpose. In surprisingly sports world
not only relies on athlete’s ability, but also uses steroid as additional
power. Despite of the strict rules about drug abuse, they still use steroid to strengthen
their body. This text also tells about the effects of steroid abuse in the
body. Therefore we have to wise before use steroid.
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