Steroid Use in Major League Baseball Essay Example

has sparked a significant public reaction due to the ongoing issue of steroid use in baseball.

Parents are worried that Major League players may influence their children to use performance-enhancing drugs in order to succeed and gain confidence, which also damages the league's reputation. The baseball record books have been called into question due to drug cheats during the so-called steroid era, during which statistics and records were constantly improving. If this issue is not addressed, it could ultimately impact the popularity of America's national pastime.

According to Jeff Zillgitt, discovering that notable baseball players were using performance-enhancing drugs or steroids would lead to a decline in interest from 56% of USATODAY.com readers. Although commonly linked with sports, these substances were initially developed as prescription medications for medical purposes. Anabolic-androgenic steroids, for instance, are prescribed by doctors to treat hormonal deficiencies in patients.

Initially, steroids were only available by prescription for medical reasons such as treating hypogonadism - a condition that results in insufficient testosterone production leading to stunted growth, underdevelopment and sexual dysfunction. Anabolic-androgenic steroids, created artificially to promote muscle growth and male characteristics development, were first made in the 1930s. However, black markets have made them easily accessible due to their competitive advantages. Aside from treating hypogonadism, physicians may also prescribe steroids for individuals who need to gain weight or suffer from anemia, delayed puberty or AIDS-related weight loss (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2000).

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are acknowledged for their medicinal advantages as a result of testosterone's anabolic and androgenic effects. These steroids enhance protein production by activating muscle cell receptors, making them even more effective when combined with intense strength training. This is why many

athletes appreciate the benefits that anabolic steroids offer.

Athletes use steroids to improve performance and increase muscle development, strength, agility, and aggressiveness. Steroids can be taken orally in pills or through injections, gels, patches, or creams. Athletes take higher doses of steroids than medical purposes recommend but often minimize side effects and maximize benefits using the "stacking" method (using multiple types of steroids simultaneously) and the "pyramiding" technique (gradually increasing dosage over a 6-12 week cycle). Popular steroids used by athletes include Anadrol, Deca-Durabolin, Durabolin, Depo-Testosterone, Equipoise and Winstrol.Adam (2004) states that there are various types of steroids available, either through a physician's prescription or illegally. These include methandriol, ethylestrenol, and methenolone. While these anabolic steroids can improve the performance and stats of athletes, they also have harmful health effects as stated by Kulpers. These side effects include damage to the liver, cardiovascular system, male reproductive system and others. The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 regulates the use of steroids in America and classifies them with barbiturates, LSD precursors, veterinary tranquilizers like ketamine and narcotic painkillers such as Vicodin (Collins).

Collins notes that drug-related fines can vary depending on the offense, with possession resulting in a $1,000 fine and selling leading to a $250,000 penalty. Offenders found guilty of drug offenses may face imprisonment for up to 10 years if they are repeat offenders and from one year onwards otherwise.

Barry Bonds and other top athletes' use of steroids has caused damage to their reputation despite their immense popularity and skill, according to Teitelbaum (2006). Investigations into steroid usage have resulted in distrust between owners and players over privacy issues. This is reported by Kenneth Shropshire, an

expert in sports business and negotiations at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (Isidore, 2006). Additionally, players such as Jason Grimsley have admitted to using steroids themselves and naming teammates who also used them.

In 2006, an article titled "Human Growth Hormone in Baseball" revealed that certain baseball players were obtaining Human Growth Hormone from their personal physicians. The House hearings on steroids have faced criticism for being politically motivated, but some individuals are against increased regulation of steroids and the sport itself. Robert Greenslade disagrees with Congress's subpoenaing of players to attend these hearings, arguing it oversteps their legislative authority and is not constitutionally supported.

According to some, Congress' attempts to subpoena witnesses are an attempt to gain nationwide attention and a misallocation of taxpayer money. However, Stephen Rather argues that as long as the House's actions comply with the constitution and U.S. Code Title 2, they have the authority to subpoena witnesses. Furthermore, though political motivations for congressional hearings may be questioned, there could be justifiable grounds for them, including raising awareness about the seriousness of an issue and encouraging effective solutions.

Dobkowski (2005) reports that the Major League Baseball and the Baseball Players' Union have introduced more rigid regulations to tackle steroid usage in the sport. These updated policies intend to enforce stricter penalties on transgressors and discourage steroid use by conducting unscheduled drug tests throughout the year, rather than just one test annually. Although Dobkowski recognizes the advantages of these measures in deterring steroid use, he also highlights possible shortcomings in their execution, especially during off-season periods when players may be overseas and harder to supervise.

According to Dobkowski, the new policies target

only steroids, overlooking other forms of performance-enhancing drugs used by certain players. The issue of players using drugs is challenging, especially for professionals. Catching offenders can also be difficult as they are often one step ahead of the authorities. The Major League's increased focus on steroid use has prompted officials to develop new measures to combat the problem. Despite potential criticism of Congress' decision to subpoena players, drug use remains illegal and must carry appropriate consequences under the law.

The survival of American sport and the reputation of Major League players among children and fans are at stake due to the critical situation caused by recent steroid scandals. Despite past endorsement of anti-drug campaigns, athletes have found ways to evade testing, such as using doctor-prescribed steroids and passing undetected laboratory checks. This has confused and disappointed impressionable minds. A report by 60 Minutes Wednesday revealed that three Carolina Panthers players from the 2004 Super Bowl had repeatedly refilled their steroid prescriptions. However, there is a glimmer of hope as the National Football League has taken decisive action against professional players' use of steroids.

Regrettably, the present system has been found to have shortcomings in recent investigations. This is because players possessing legal prescriptions for steroids were not accounted for in the roster of affirmative test outcomes. Upon investigating the underlying reason behind steroid misuse, it becomes evident that athletes have resorted to using performance-enhancing drugs due to societal pressure to achieve superiority and overcome opponents by any means necessary. While transforming society's perspective on success and failure may be challenging or unfeasible, ethical considerations concerning these substances should be given greater emphasis. The purpose of sports is

to foster equitable competition, demonstrating instances of human accomplishment through perseverance and diligence.

The combination of sports and steroids is problematic as it destroys the ideal of fair play and provides an unfair advantage to players who break the rules. Essentially, the intentions of sports and steroids contradict each other. It is important to emphasize that illegal substances like steroids have been a part of the United States' drug problem for a significant amount of time.

Individuals do not require idols or figures to follow who will ultimately lead them towards failure and be willing to cheat just for mere recognition. The matter of steroid utilization within Major League Baseball may have provided valuable insights to players on how drugs can deteriorate not only their physical and mental health, but also their character and public image.