Mandatory Drug Tests for Athletes
Mandatory Drug Tests for Athletes
In 1986, Len Bias, a star basketball player at the University of the Maryland tried cocaine. Shortly after, Len Bias died from cardiac arrhythmia as a result of cocaine overdose (Peck 36) . Not only do drugs ruin the health of athletes, but the use of performance enhancing drugs also ruins the integrity of the sporting world. Therefore, there should be mandatory drug tests for all athletes.
Performance enhancing drugs were first used in the 8th Century B.C. by ancient Greek athletes who ate sheep testicles to improve their athletic performance (Egendorf 78). Drug use then continued in the 20th century with substances such as heroin and cocaine (78). Athletes then started using
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drugs from peer pressure, to be cool, or to look good. Drug addiction starts as (1) casual use, (2) regular use, (3) addiction or chemical dependence (Peck 32).
The most common performance enhancing drugs are anabolic- androgenic steroids. Anabolic means muscle-building, while androgenic refers to masculine characteristics. In the 1930s, these drugs were made to mimic the effects of male hormones testosterone enabling a persons body to regulate the development of muscles and secondary male characteristics (Egendorf 23). Sports such as football, wrestling, weight lifting, track and field, and swimming have the most steroid usage. The average steroid user spends between $50 and $600 per month while steroid pushers make between $300 to $400 million each year (Peck 54). There are about 80 different types of steroids (25) and the effects of these steroids in teens are severe acne on their faces, chests, backs, and arms, bad headaches, high body temperatures, nosebleeds, loss of hair, damaged hearts, roid rage, memory loss, and the loss of feeling to pain. The reason why athletes take
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drugs is to help them improve their performance, recover from an injury quicker, boosts of strength, and have the ability to train
In 1986, Len Bias, a star basketball player at the University of the Maryland tried cocaine. Shortly after, Len Bias died from cardiac arrhythmia as a result of cocaine overdose (Peck 36) . Not only do drugs ruin the health of athletes, but the use of performance enhancing drugs also ruins the integrity of the sporting world. Therefore, there should be mandatory drug tests for all athletes.
Performance enhancing drugs were first used in the 8th Century B.C. by ancient Greek athletes who ate sheep testicles to improve their athletic performance (Egendorf 78). Drug use then continued in the 20th century with substances such as heroin and cocaine (78). Athletes then started using
Sellers-Otero 2
drugs from peer pressure, to be cool, or to look good. Drug addiction starts as (1) casual use, (2) regular use, (3) addiction or chemical dependence (Peck 32).
The most common performance enhancing drugs are anabolic- androgenic steroids. Anabolic means muscle-building, while androgenic refers to masculine characteristics. In the 1930s, these drugs were made to mimic the effects of male hormones testosterone enabling a persons body to regulate the development of muscles and secondary male characteristics (Egendorf 23). Sports such as football, wrestling, weight lifting, track and field, and swimming have the most steroid usage. The average steroid user spends between $50 and $600 per month while steroid pushers make between $300 to $400 million each year (Peck 54). There are about 80 different types of steroids (25) and the effects of these steroids in teens are severe acne on their faces, chests, backs, and arms, bad headaches, high body temperatures, nosebleeds, loss of hair, damaged hearts, roid rage, memory loss, and the loss of feeling to pain. The reason why athletes take
Sellers-Otero 3
drugs is to help them improve their performance, recover from an injury quicker, boosts of strength, and have the ability to train