subject: The NFL: Steroids and Human Growth Hormone [print this page] The NFL: Steroids and Human Growth Hormone
Ever since humans first began playing games and sports,they have tried all sorts of ways of performing better than their rivals.some achieved a competitive edge through hard work and training.others relied on clever strategies. Then there were those who turned to natural substances taken from plants and animals to boost their performances. Today,numerous substances known as performance-enhancing drugs(PEDs) are used by athletes to bulid strength.speed,and give them a competitive edge.
The most commonly used(and abused) PEDS are anabolic-androgenic steroids. "Anabolic" refers to muscle building. "Androgenic" refers to typical male characteristics like big muscles and deep voice. Today's steroids are mostly manufactured substances whose effects are similar to those of testosterone, which is the primary male sex homone. In some cases, steroids are helpful. Doctors prescribe them to athletes who are looking to bulid up their muscles and increase their size and strength. And using steroids with prescription is illegal.
In the doping detection world, anabolic steroids come out 'easy' (nothing is easy as the Floyd Landis case shows); 'growth' because of the short half-life and verisimilitude to the athlete's own HGH, evades reliable detection. Furthermore, HGH will be detected in blood, an invasive acquisition which constitutes a sticky wicket among civil libertarians. (UCLA's Don Catlin's remarks about testing after the jump).
The author gets it right. HGH in combo with other PEDs (like testosterone) appears to enhance muscle size and strength. HGH remains undetectable. Thus HGH users like Romanowski, Rodney Harrison, and Tim Couch continue to freak-up with the drug.
Unfortunately, many players, coaches, doctors,and sports organizations have not played fair. Instead, they have acted as though the benefits of using steroids outweigh the dangers to athletes' health and the potential disgrace a player faces is the cheating is exposed. Nobody can deny that strength and speed are important for a professional ball player. However, when players' drug use comes to light, fans feel cheated and disappointed. Steroid scandals ruin the reputation of both the national football league and perfessional sports in America. They also ruin the good name. Health and sometimes even the lives of players who feel driven to use them. Instead of heroes, they end up losers.
