In an earlier post, I defended Alex Rodriguez when his name alone was leaked from of 104 players who tested positive for steroid use in a survey conducted by Major League Baseball (MLB). The leaked information was a violation of a court order. The report of his steroid use cannot help Rodriguez, MLB, or fans appreciation of the game. Of course there are beneficiaries, the writers, the people who leaked the information and the fans who like gossip.
My post was not to encourage steroid use, but could accurately be interpreted as condoning steroid use by professional athletes when leagues and unions don't take protect nonusers' careers by active testing and other rules. Major League Baseball and the union knew of the use, and tacitly approved. Players using steroids seem to out produce those that do not. They hit home runs and fans like home runs. More fans means more money to players represented by the union and MLB. I understand why a player would take them but I admire players who risk careers and the glory that comes with big stats by staying clean.
I do not understand why anybody without big bucks on the line would use them. By the way, great high school athletes, with the exception of one or two annually, do not have big bucks on the line. The probability of making into the pros is still very small, and the probability of being an impact player smaller still.
Dick Butkus, sponsored by Old Spice, maintains the web site "PlayClean," that encourages young athletes not to use performance enhancing drugs. I must acknowledge that I am skeptical of information released by any web site with an agenda. PlayClean does a good job of linking to documents that appear to give accurate information about the impacts of steroid use, but athletic and health. One of the linked documents was produced by the Mayo Clinic (Performance-enhancing drugs and your teen athlete). On anabolic steroids, the authors write,
The use of anabolic steroids is increasing among young athletes, despite the fact that these drugs are illegal without a prescription. Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone and come in tablets, injections, patches or gels. They build muscle and increase endurance, and are particularly popular with bodybuilders and football players.
In the United States, about 3 million people use anabolic steroids — one in four of these steroid users started as a teenager, and one out of every 10 is a teenager. Anabolic steroids can halt bone growth and result in a permanently
short stature, so they're particularly dangerous for still-growing adolescents. Steroids can also damage the heart and liver.
Signs your son may be taking anabolic steroids include increased acne and male-pattern baldness. If your daughter takes anabolic steroids, she may develop male characteristics, such as a deep voice or dark facial hair. Teens who take anabolic steroids may have angry outbursts know as " 'roid rage." They may seem unusually moody and may experience depression when they stop using the drugs.
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