Essay Sample on Steroids in Athletic Performance

Since the beginning of their creation, steroids have always been a controversial topic regarding athletic performance. Anabolic- steroids are widely used amongst amateur and professional athletes to increase muscle tissue and body mass; however, this can result with serious consequences if exposed. While these steroids allow athletes to improve their physique and performance, in the event that they are being abused, an individual’s health could take a downhill turn. Many professional and lower-level sports leagues such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, and numerous more, prohibit the use of this drug. The primary reason for this is because they are dangerous and give an unfair advantage to those who abuse it. 

Steroids have been used dating back to the twentieth century, in Germany is the form synthesized testosterone to treat depression in Germany. Thereafter, in the next two decades, steroids made their way to the Olympics with Russians miscuing the drug during the 1954 Olympics.In relation to when these performance enhancing drugs became relevant in athletic performance in the eighties, steroids are still being used as such in the twenty first century across many sport industries. Steroids had an initial use not related to physical appearance rather helping improve the mental health of patients, the male population became the leading  athletes at the time who used steroids. 

In present day, steroids are used by athletes and non-athlete’s, with having a purpose of not only aiding in physical performance but also different aspects of athletic performance. There are positive outcomes which result from taking anabolic steroids, however the reasons for taking them are often the catalyst for abuse of such drugs. In relation to these reasons stated, increasing lean body mass, strength, and reducing the recovery time results in what has shown better performance. The many individuals who use steroids, experienced or not experienced, too often focus on the results that they become dependent on the drugs and this is where the drug abuse comes into play. 

The research surrounding anabolic steroids, and their purpose is extensive, however the abuse and misuse of this drug is minimal. Very often as with many other drugs in society today coverage is little to none, due to the possibility of no attraction towards the use. As many controlled substances, the early use was to treat a legitimate medical diagnosis and have made their way to a list of abused drugs.In today’s society is appears that any drugs and more specifically the misuse of drugs has become a restricted conversation, more specifically steroids as they are known to be one of the more prevalent performance enhancing drugs which more instances than not is abused. Which is typically due to the psychological issues regarding body dysmorphia, more prominent to occur in male athletes. 

Although there is minimal research and information in relevance to the topic of the adverse reactions of anabolic steroids, it is important to note. One of the more common adverse reactions due to taking anabolic steroids that could lead the possibility of being life-threatening, are cardiovascular issues. Stanozolol is a classification of steroids, which are taken to aide in building muscle, faster recovery rate from workouts and increasing muscle mass. As other steroids for athletic performance these are proven to  do as such, however with that comes with the possibility of substantial events to take place. Along with these six studies six others were found anabolic steroids were linked to potential life threatening arrythmias. It is evident that although there are confirmed reasoning for taking these steroids, nonetheless, have been found to be connected to cardiovascular complications. 

In the company of cardiovascular complication to arise due to steroids, there are many other side effects to occur. Psychological and physical side effects are among the concerns that can take place because of taking steroids. Many who learn about the harsh realities of taking steroids would more than likely not know of the side effects regarding anxiety, mood swings, altered sexual tendencies and more.  When athletes take these anabolic steroids there is a logical reasoning, however there are physical side effects that come along with the use, can make one insecure or even significantly dangerous such as issues with the liver. There are also serious psychological issues, that can take place when on doses of steroids, especially when in the presence of misuse. By taking steroids you are affecting the ability of your body to react properly to certain environment and/or situations, which is when the impulse kicks in. 

To further examine the impact of anabolic steroids on the athletic performance, there were once legit medical reasoning for taking, but overtime have created a stigma regarding these drugs. Specifically anabolic steroids which are used among athletes of bodybuilding, baseball, wrestling, hockey, football, and more, have been and currently being taken to reduce the recovery rate, increase muscle mass and lean body mass, among other aspects of athletic performance. Athletes have these intentions when starting steroids and while continuing them, but there are consequences which can be as little as hair loss to cardiovascular diseases that should be considered if there is a desire to take these performance enhancing drugs all of which can happen whether there is abuse present or not. 

Anabolic steroids or any other performance enhancing drugs for that matter, are banned from professional and amateur sports for distinctly valid reasons, being they can be dangerous and give an unfair advantage to those not taking. When athletes are on doses of anabolic steroids, yes there is the reason being to improve their performance and all aspects related, however there is a percentage of this population who in many instances, get sucked in entangled into the mental details. In other terms, they become focused on the appearance of their body, and now have developed body dysmorphia, and believe the way to fix the “skinny” or “small” body is to up the dose of steroids leading to abuse. It is a sad reality that the initial use of these drugs was to aide in mental health, and to a certain extent still is, however in society today that is the reason for the stigma regarding steroids. Before athletes started using anabolic steroids, they were able to perform at their peak, without help from a drug that boosted them as an athlete, and quite frankly their egos along with that.