subject: Famous Steroid Use Cases in US Sports [print this page] Famous Steroid Use Cases in US Sports Famous Steroid Use Cases in US Sports
Steroid use in sports is cheating in the eyes of sports authorities. That is because the use of anabolic steroids and other similar drugs enhances the performance of an athlete and gives the athlete an unfair advantage over others working mostly through their own efforts. It violates the honor-bound code that sportsmen are supposed to follow.
Despite this, however, it does not stop many athletes from taking anabolic steroids and other performance enhancers to improve their game. A lot of them thought they could get away with it. But once they are caught using steroids, their careers become definitely over.
Which famous American athletes fell from grace over steroid use? Here are just some.
Marion Jones
Marion Jones was previously a world champion in track and field. She held many records and won many medals, the most significant of which are the five medals she won during the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia.
All the records, prizes and medals that Marion Jones had won after September 2000, however, were stripped away from her in 2007, after her name was caught in the BALCO scandal. BALCO was a ring that supplied anabolic steroids to famous athletes.
Marion Jones later admitted to steroid use prior to the Sydney Olympics. More than that, she lied about her steroid use to two grand juries. She was then convicted of perjury and was sentenced to six months in jail. She served her time from March to September 2008.
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds is considered to be among the greatest players in the history of baseball. His many sports records include seven MVP awards, four of which he won consecutively; 14 All-Stars; and 762 home runs.
His achievements in baseball, however, were shadowed by steroid use. Just like Marion Jones, he became a central figure in the BALCO scandal. He also lied about it before a grand jury despite being under oath. Although he had set records in baseball and can still make more, Barry Bonds was not re-signed with the San Francisco Giants.
Tim Montgomery
Tim Montgomery is another former athlete who was implicated in the BALCO scandal. He was in the US Olympic team for athletics and he made a number of records in track and field. He was also a former partner of Marion Jones.
Montgomery's involvement with BALCO resulted in him getting banned for two years despite his appeal. After the ban was made public, he announced his retirement from sports.
Ken Caminiti
If there is so much media attention these days about athletes on anabolic steroids and other similar substances, this can be attributed to the late Ken Caminiti. Ken Caminiti was a baseball star who last played for the Atlanta Braves. His awards include three Golden Gloves and the 1996 MVP.
Ken Caminiti was the first baseball player who admitted to steroid use. His admission, albeit scandalous, led to various league-wide and congressional inquiries regarding the use of performance enhancers among other baseball players.
