The Effects of Steroids on Athletes
Anabolic steroids are controversial performance enhancing drugs, which are taken by athletes who believe that these substances have competitive advantages, despite a number of physical and psychological side effects (Hoffman and Ratames, 2006). Sportsmen suggest that steroids increase their muscle mass and strength and ensure the safeness of steroids if used in low dosage for a short period of time. However, medical community focuses on potential health issues associated with ergogenic drug use. Sport government, eliminating health hazards, increased by steroid use and promoting fair play agreed to punish athletes with positive anabolic steroid test and ban them from a competition (Hartgens and Kuipers, 2004). The aim of the paper is to analyze contrasting views, emphasize health risks, define which of them are exaggerated, and figure out why some athletes underestimate health threats associated with ergogenic drugs.
Ergogenic Aid
Anabolic-androgenic steroids, which are used as ergogenic, performance enhancing aid, are synthetic derivatives of natural male anabolic hormone testosterone (Hoffman and Ratames, 2006). Natural testosterone androgens affect maturing of the male reproductive system, voice deepening, and growth of body hair. Anabolic hormones provide the body with the reserving of dietary protein, which contributes to muscle development. Steroid hormones affect metabolism, as their excessive amount causes adverse biological activity. Synthetic versions of male sex hormone testosterone, anabolic steroids, are popular not only among sportsmen, but among both males and females who hopefully wish to look, feel, and perform better. Ergogenic aids are administrated mainly orally or in an injectable form, targeting on intensive masculinization and rapid muscle growth (Hartgens and Kuipers, 2004).
There are several various types of anabolic steroids, which are used for different purposes. Testosterone, which is used for increasing metabolism, preserving muscles, and gaining weight, is one of the most popular steroids (Yu, Bonnerud, & Eriksson, 2014). Other steroids, used in dieting to help the body to produce more testosterone, add strength and size include dianabol, anadrol, primobolan, and clenbuterol (Hoffman and Ratames, 2006). Synthetic steroids are characterized by rapid degradation, which limits their ergogenic aid, and require high frequency of administration. Athletes use various drugs simultaneously in order to increase the potency of various anabolic agents (Barbalho and Barreiros, 2015). Besides, high-protein and high-calorie diets are significant in maximizing the effectiveness of anabolic. However, some steroid consumers administrate them secretly and in abnormally large amounts in order to achieve immediate desirable results, which may cause harmful health disorders.
Effects of Steroid Use on Athletic Performance
Anabolic steroid consumers estimate that these substances increase strength and fitness, self-esteem and self-confidence, improve image, reduce muscle damage, and increase pain and stress tolerance, which allow them to train harder (Hartgens and Kuipers, 2004). They ensure that steroids induce a second adolescence, increased strength allow them to rotate the …
