Question

Anabolic steroids are synthetic organic compounds which are versions of the male hormone testosterone. Athletes will illegally take steroids to help the body metabolize ingested proteins and facilitate the synthesis of skeletal muscle. They also delay fatigue and may create a feeling of euphoria.

Read the article below and listen to the podcast of the debate. Post your opinion on the subject or comment on a post from one of your colleagues.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18299098

Answer 1

When considering the banning of steroid use in sports, we should also consider the use of drugs in everyday life. We claim that it's out of concerns for the athelete's health, and the "purity of the game", but the fact remains that the average citizen is guilty of whatever crimes thet attribute to athletes. We are currently the most heavily-medicated generation ever seen. Compounding that is the fact that study results are being covered up on a massive scale due to pressure from pharmaceutical industries. Claims about the negative health effects of steroids are hypocritical when one considers how little we know about the drugs that many of us use on a daily basis.

I'm not denying that steroids can have potentially negative health effects, nor am I denying that steroid use in sports should be banned. However, I'm arguing that over-medication is a societal problem. Medicating ourselves to do better on tests and at work, is common, and like I said earlier, almost nothing is known about the drugs many of us are perscribed. If we are to tackle steroid use in sports, we must first start by addressing widespread drug abuse in society.