Freelance Article Writing by Contel Bradford
The Lowdown on Steroids and Athletes
As an athlete, having the ability to excel at sporting competition is something you strive for. This is a feeling shared on all levels, from high school and collegiate play to the amateur game and the pro field. Some push themselves for the sheer satisfaction and love of the game while others do so for recognition and fame on the biggest stage of them all. Not only do you have athletes that excel through hard work and discipline, but those who decide to win at any cost as well. In this case, the latter refers to the athlete that elects to use steroids to propel themselves to the next level.
The Steroid Phenomenon
Also referred to as hype, juice or simply roids, anabolic steroids represent the powerful class of prescription drugs that have taken the athletic world by storm. Not to be confused with steroid medications such as hydrocortisone and prednisone that are used to treat legitimate conditions like asthma and skin inflammation, these particular drugs are primarily used to boost athletic performance, hence the label, performance enhancing drugs. Anabolic steroids play an integral role in building muscle tissue and increasing one’s body mass, working in a similar manner as the natural male hormone testosterone. Although most relate them to performance boosting drugs, anabolic steroids can also serve benefit in other areas. For example, when used properly, they can assist in treating connective tissue disease, blood disorders, some forms of cancer and sexual related dysfunctions, arthritis, and various other serious conditions. However, due to the potential for abuse and side effects, they are only to be prescribed and used under tight medical supervision and have therefore been classified as controlled substances on a federal level.
Anabolic steroids have been outlawed by a number of professional and college athletic associations including the NFL, NCAA and MLB, the sport which is associated with these drugs more than any other. For the most part, the NFL has cleaned up its abuse issues, testing its players on a regular basis for illicit usage. Those who test positive are subject to suspension and being expelled from the league upon a second failed test. MLB tests its players roughly once per year, with penalties ranging from a subtle slap on the wrist to 50-game suspensions, as was the case with Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez. Due to all of the negative attention and the simple fact that athletes are tested so frequently these days, most will never admit to using these banned substances, with some seemingly willing to take it to their graves.
Why Athletes use Steroids
If you really want to know why athletes across numerous sports turn to steroids, the answer is simple: the belief that it will improve their level of competitiveness and performance. In fact, some are even encouraged to use them by parents or coaches in attempt to prompt a more aggressiveness nature, increase body weight and build lean muscle. The truth is that like any drug, anabolic steroids have the potential to be very harmful when abused. And while they can help to improve your performance out on the field, they will not enhance your agility or skill, attributes that can only be obtained through practice and hard work. Steroids are perhaps the most controversial topic in the sports realm, but before you make the decision to put any drug into your body, be it steroids or human growth hormone, it is important to first gather all the facts.
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