Sports and steroids, they’re like peanut butter and jelly – controversial yet intertwined. You’ve probably heard about athletes using steroids to boost their performance, whether it’s sprinters trying to run faster or powerlifters aiming to lift heavier weights. But should we allow steroids in sports, especially in competitions where everyone’s on them?
Anabolic steroids are synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone. They have long been a topic of debate in the world of sports. These substances are known to enhance muscle growth, increase strength, and improve recovery times, making them very attractive to athletes looking to gain a competitive edge. However, the use of anabolic steroids comes with significant risks, including cardiovascular complications, liver damage, and psychological effects such as aggression and mood swings. Moreover, the use of steroids raises ethical questions about fairness and integrity in sports. In powerlifting, a sport centered around raw strength, the temptation to use steroids to lift heavier weights is strong. Some argue that allowing steroids in “steroid-only” competitions would level the playing field and provide a safer environment for athletes, as they would receive medical supervision. However, others rebut this by saying the use of steroids undermines the principles of fair play and natural talent.
In the world of professional sports in today’s day and age, a lot of effort goes into the deterrence of the use of steroids to uphold fair competition. One prominent example is the National Football League (NFL), which has implemented many different measures to combat substance abuse among its athletes. The NFL’s substance abuse policy includes yearly checks and random testing for steroids, masking agents, and growth hormones. The league’s policy also outlines severe consequences for offenders, including suspensions ranging from four games to an entire season for first-time violators, with subsequent infractions resulting in longer suspensions or even permanent bans from the league. Moreover, the NFL invests in education and prevention programs, providing players with information about the risks associated with steroid use and promoting a culture of clean competition and integrity. By combining rigorous testing, strict penalties, and comprehensive education initiatives, the NFL demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport while safeguarding the health and well-being of its athletes.
In the NFL today, there were two recent cases of drug-abuse in players who faced penalties, both having a pretty large name around themselves in the league. These two names being DeAndre Hopkins, a Tennessee Titans wide receiver, and a recent case being Jimmy Garoppolo, a veteran Quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. However, these players got different punishments. Hopkins has had a history of several different offenses, facing multiple fines for taunting and more. When Hopkins was busted using performance enhancing drugs to boost his play, he faced a six-game suspension without pay. To put this into perspective each team has seventeen regular season games. Therefore, Hopkins would miss about one-third of the season and not be paid. Garopollo is in a different situation as he is a well-known veteran Quarterback who has been clean in the league for a time. He is now thirty-two years old and recently injured, missing out on time. This makes sense to why he is using these performance enhancers, although these facts still do not make it right. However, because of these factors and the fact that he has no previous offenses he is only facing a two week suspension from the National Football League, however, although this situation seems better, it could end a whole lot worse. This is because Garopollo in terms of an NFL quarterback is simply old, and with this upcoming draft filled with some of the best prospects ever seen, teams want to develop new younger players. Therefore, the Las Vegas Raiders organization is expected to release their veteran quarterback, meaning he would lose his job and become a free agent.
Overall, steroids in sports sends the wrong message to aspiring athletes and takes away from the emphasis on skill and hard work. Instead of condoning steroid use, like the NFL, efforts should be directed towards promoting clean, drug-free competition and implementing many drug tests and other tests to keep steroids out of the games, as well as punishing those who abuse these policies. By upholding the integrity of sports and emphasizing the importance of fair play, athletes can be inspired to achieve their best without resorting to performance-enhancing drugs.
