UFC And MMA: Steroid Issue

In every sport, there has always been a desire to win. Some athletes will do anything to make winning possible. Every elite athlete wants to be better than their opponent. Some rely on performance enhancing drugs, also known as PED’s, to improve their game. This topic is very important because it can be the difference between winning and losing. Winning can mean money, fame and a place in history. I believe athletes should not use PED’s in sports because it is an unfair advantage, health risk, bad role modeling, bad sportsmanship, and results in tainted records and awards.

Performance-enhancing drugs (PED 's) have been an issue for many decades now for the medical and sports field. Olympic and professional athletes have been using them to gain an upper hand on the competition, but some may ask if it 's really worth it? Studies show that performance-enhancing drugs have been proven to negatively affect the health of athletes who take them. Simply put, performance-enhancing drugs could either improve athletic performance or can be extremely dangerous, in certain situations, deadly. There have been strict rules and drug testing in the professional sporting organizations, as well as in world competitions. For example, in the summer of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, in two of the

The competitive drive to win at all cost is fierce among athletes. Winning at all cost often includes using one of many performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids. Many athletes use performance enhancing drugs, like steroids, to achieve higher goals and set higher records than other drug-free successful athletes. Although athletes are performing at higher levels when using such drugs, what is the cost? Finally anabolic steroids should remain banned from sports because their use results in many harmful side effects; because their use violates sports regulations, and because their use can cause death.

Abstract:  With the increase of competition has also come the need to become bigger and stronger than the opponent.  The use of steroids among athletes has caused the focus of the game to change.  No longer does an athlete want to win by doing their best, but they want to become bigger and have an advantage over the opponent.  Ultimately, all athletes feel that they need to use performance-enhancing drugs to compete at the same level. Despite all of the warnings and information on performance-enhancing drugs, athletes continue to use them and overlook the potential health risks associated with steroids.

“…medical researchers believe that between 1 and 3 million youths and adults have taken anabolic steroids in one form or another specifically to enhance their looks or athletic performances,” stated Nuwer (Nuwer, 61). As astounding as these figures are, the number of performance drug users is steadily increasing. With this progressively increasing numbers, it is projected that millions more will use steroids in the immediate future (Newer, 61). Athletes have always sought an advantage in competition even if ignoring the law and their health if necessary. Using drugs of any sort to facilitate an athlete’s athletic ability should be illegal. The use of performance enhancing drugs is not only detrimental to the user but it also creates an

Professional sports are very special in the United States. One reason for this is the spirit of competition. However, steroid use taints this

Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Lance Armstrong are all athletes that have even been accused of or admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. Many associate the word Performance Enhancing Drugs or steroids to athletes, which is actually a common misconception. PEDs are substances that are used to improve any form of activity performance in humans and since 776 B.C.E, people have been taking them. The Greeks first used them in the Olympic games to gain an advantage over the other professionals competing. Around 100 A.D., Roman Gladiators also used stimulants to prevent fatigue and improve the fight’s intensity. The act of taking these drugs really started in 1904 when every Olympic team developed their own formula, which mainly consisted

The most commonly discussed issue in sports of the 21st century is the use of performance enhancing drugs by professional athletes. Over the past four years, it has been nearly impossible to turn on the television without hearing something about athletes and these drugs. From former National League MVP Third Baseman Ken Caminiti's admission of steroid use in an issue of Sports Illustrated (Verducci, 2004) to 2006 Tour de France Champion Floyd Landis being stripped of title due to a failed doping test (Blue, 2006) virtually every sport is involved. Are performance enhancing drugs a substance that threatens the very existence of professional sports, or are they the future? Perhaps the issue

In the world of competitive sports, athletes are always looking for an edge over their opponent. Being the best of the best is ultimately the goal of an athlete. There are many instances known to man where an athlete will do anything to win. Traditionally anabolic steroids, give athletes that edge over their opponent giving them peak performance. Banning anabolic steroids in pro sports doesn’t allow athletes maximum muscle growth, focus, or peak performance.

The sports world is filled with endless competition with everyone trying to be the absolute best, so is greatness worth risking their own life? With the constant push from coaches, family members, fans, and even themselves, it is no wonder that athletes sometimes experiment with performance enhancers. There are many different types of Performance Enhancing Drugs, and each kind has different effects on the human body. There are many different categories of Performance Enhancing Drugs, a few include; Anabolic steroids which unnaturally build muscle at a much more rapid rate, Stimulants which can improve athletic performance and endurance while decreasing fatigue, and Painkillers which can allow an athlete to perform

     Many athletes feel like they have to take steroids to keep up with everyone else and be competitive. ?If you don?t, you weren?t as strong as everyone else, you weren?t as fast as everybody else,? stated Jim Haslett in an interview with Sam Farmer of the LA Times. Haslett, now coach of the New Orleans Saints and former linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, goes on to say, ?That?s the only reason to do it. Everybody?s looking for that competitive edge? (Farmer 1). Aside from professional sports, many high school and college athletes feel the pressure to take steroids to gain an edge. They feel like they won?t be able to perform at the next level without steroids. All many young athlete have to do is look at today?s sports stars to see the size, strength, and speed it takes to be a successful professional athlete. Unfortunately, most of the athletes that the young people are looking at have taken or are currently taking steroids. It is then only rational for kids to think that if they are going to be the best, they need steroids too. Only the best of the best in professional sports get the biggest contract, the top agent, the covers of the magazines, and, seemingly above all, the priciest paycheck. Many athletes feel like they can only lift so much and run so hard until they can?t get any

Over the past century using steroids or performance enhancing drugs has been a massive issue in today’s athletic society. Using steroids is unfair to athletes and their fans, because it gives certain sportsman an unfair advantage. Some athletes try to win at all costs even if sometimes that cost is there career, achievements, and even there lifes.

In fact, athletes only do PED’s to give themselves an edge, which is unfair to righteous players. In the end, they all eventually hurt themselves and sports will become meaningless. Richard Pound said, ¨Remember athletes don’t take these drugs to level the playing field, they do it to get an advantage… The end game will be an activity that is increasingly violent, extreme, and meaningless.” This leads people to believe if players take PED’s, they are doing it for an unfair advantage and not for health needs.

Although most sports outlaw steroids, the WWE has had many people die from steroid related problems. Over 100 wrestlers in the past 80 years have died from causes that can be linked to steroids, mostly retired wrestlers. ( “Wrestling Book”) People often die from steroid overdoses. Overdoses can cause high blood pressure, and serious liver damage. When you overdose on steroids you are at an enormous risk for a heart attack. If steroids were to become legal, suicides numbers would go through the roof. Steroids don’t just mess with your physical opinion, it messes with the chemicals in your brain. People who use steroids will feel withdrawl, and often be depressed with many mood swings. That is where the steroid stereotype comes from. If you use steroids long enough, it will become hard to function in your everyday

Thesis : The history of steroids, the affects of steroids on the human body, steroids in sports, and reasons why people use steroids, are all things I 've wanted to know for a long time now I am going to further my knowledge on this topic.