Introduction
The increasing use of steroids or PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) is a significantly worrying trend in contemporary sports. Individuals who abuse PEDs are driven by a selfish need to gain a competitive advantage and perform past their reasonable limits. Apart from enhanced body mass and strength achieved from increasing use of PEDs, they do not contribute to increased performance and skills (Smith, 2012). A sportsman overall performance and abilities can only be improved by routine training, healthy dieting, body size, and age. There are processes entailed in the utilization of steroids within the human body, reasons for their use, effects on the body, and statistics of usage depending on specific types of steroids as analyzed in this paper.
Definition and Processes
Steroids are defined as hormones taken as injections or oral tablets that alter the hormonal body interactions to generate additional testosterone. Steroids can be categorized into stimulants and anabolic. While the latter is used to boost body functions and metabolism including the heart rate, the former stimulates muscle growth (de Souza & Hallak, 2011). The type of steroid used by an athlete depends on factors including the body size and the intensity of the physical activity they engage in. Anabolic steroids are however commonly used in boosting physical power and strength. PEDs emulate the manner in which hormone testosterone functions in the body and activates protein synthesis that subsequently translates to a 38% increase in muscle strength in both male and female athletes (Smith, 2012).
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Steroids such as HGH (human growth hormone) support vigorous muscle growth and development by advancing the levels of IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) (Baggish et al., 2010). Also, the nervous system is triggered to speed up neural processes, thus facilitate an increased release of energy and hormone adrenaline, which are fundamental for competitive activities (Smith, 2012). In physical fitness activities where an individual’s stamina determines performance, blood doping has been used to attain desirable outcomes. Blood doping has been achieved through EPO (erythropoietin) injections and blood transfusions that raise the number of red blood cells (de Souza & Hallak, 2011). Nevertheless, steroids abusers combine several types of these hormones to achieve the best outcomes.
Comparing Different Types of Steroids
The primary forms of steroids include corticosteroids and anabolic steroids. While corticosteroids (dexamethasone and prednisolone) can be prescribed to treat diseases such as lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma, others like anabolic steroids can be used to control the production of testosterone in both ovaries and testicles (Baggish et al., 2010). The most commonly used steroid in professional sports is Androstenedione, which was illegalized in 2004 by the NCAA, the NFL, and MLB among other sporting organizations. Internationally acknowledged institutions such as FIFA have also prohibited diuretics since it is used to interfere with urine tests and attain rapid weight loss (Smith, 2012).
Other hormones such as methenolone, THG (Tetrahydrogestrinone), and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) have indicated a 76% degree of popularity and use among famous players such as Alex Rodriguez (Baggish et al., 2010). These steroids are mostly preferred due to their ability to enhance muscle mass without posing severe side effects as compared to others. PEDs such as Tetrahydrogestrinone are manufactured in ways that make it impossible to confirm in relevant tests, a quality that places its use at 83% among professional athletes (Baggish et al., 2010).
Analyze Cause and Effect
The leading causes for the use of steroids as emphasized by de Souza and Hallak (2011) are to gain a competitive advantage over opponents by increasing the release of adrenaline hormone, increasing red blood cells, and body muscle mass index. Apart from offering an unfair competitive environment for honest athletes, steroids have been proven to cause adverse medical outcomes. According to a study published by Baggish and colleagues (2010), “steroids can cause high blood pressure, thickening of the heart valves, decreased fertility and libido. Also, steroids are also reported to bring about physical changes in a user's appearance such as chest hair in women and shrunken testicles in men.” Baggish et al. (2010) also state that “blood doping is also highly risky, as boosting the number of red blood cells thickens the blood, which in turn can increase the risk of having a stroke and developing heart disease.”
Other researchers have confirmed that PEDs reduces sexual drive due to the manipulation they have on the endocrine system. When abusers stop taking these hormones, they interfere with the body’s capacity to generate testosterone since it is always in abundance. Consequently, male recovering addicts may notice the shrinking of testicles and impaired erections. In women, the side effects are worse. As de Souza and Hallak (2011) points out, women may experience “excessive body hair, menstrual cycle disruptions, shrinking breasts, and enlarged clitorises, in addition to “mood swings and extreme irritability or aggression.” Other conditions include kidney and liver growths, mental disorders, and hearts diseases which may shut an athlete’s dreams.
Past Steroid Use Example
A typical case of steroids abuse was the one that implicated Dwain Chambers, a former UK sprinter who got disqualified in 2003 Olympics. Chambers used testosterone creams and hormone erythropoietin to increase the rate of recovery and boost his red blood cells. The main intention was to enable him to manage numerous training repetitions for a better mastery of the game. Moreover, Chambers used the HGH, modafinil, and hormone liothyronine to improve his mental alertness, therefore, increasing physical reaction time and mental alertness (Markser, 2013).
Conclusion
In summary, consistent use of steroids encourages a notable increase in muscle strength and mass, hence providing a user an advantage over other competitors. Physically extensive sports that require maximum endurance such as short distance races, football, wrestling, and basketball are prone to steroids usage. Individuals who fancy huge muscles including bodybuilders form the largest groups of steroid abusers.
References
Baggish, A. L., Weiner, R. B., Kanayama, G., Hudson, J. I., Picard, M. H., Hutter Jr, A. M., & Pope Jr, H. G. (2010). Long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid use is associated with left ventricular dysfunction. Circulation: Heart Failure, 3(4), 472-476.
de Souza, G. L., & Hallak, J. (2011). Anabolic steroids and male infertility: a comprehensive review. BJU international , 108 (11), 1860-1865.
Markser, V. Z. (2013). Sport psychiatry and psychotherapy. Mental strains and disorders in professional sports. Challenge and answer to societal changes. European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience , 261 (2), 182.
Smith, C. (2012). Why It's Time To Legalize Steroids In Professional Sports. Forbes. com .
