Athletes may use steroids in an effort to improve their performance and gain an edge over their competitors. However, the use of steroids in sports is generally considered to be unethical and is strictly prohibited by many organizations. In addition to being illegal in many cases, the use of steroids can also have serious negative effects on an athlete’s health, including increased risk of heart attacks, liver damage, and other medical complications. As a result, it is important for athletes to resist the temptation to use steroids and instead focus on training and proper nutrition to achieve their goals. In fact, according to JBHNews, many professional athletes who have been caught using steroids have faced severe consequences, including bans from competition and damage to their reputations.

How Athletes Use Steroids

Athletes use different types of steroids to achieve their fitness goals. The most common types of steroids used by athletes are anabolic steroids .

These steroids are structurally similar to the natural hormones in the body and work on increasing the amount of natural testosterone in the body .

Anabolic steroids most often used include Testosterone Enanthate , Testosterone Propionate, and Testosterone Isocaproate .

When taken in high dosages, anabolic steroids can produce increased strength, muscle growth , and increased aggression or drive .

Why Do Athletes Use Steroids ?

Athletes use steroids for various reasons. However , the primary reason is performance enhancement .

Athletes who use steroids believe that it gives them a competitive edge over their competitors .

Thus , the increase in performance is a major reason for steroid use by athletes .

The Dangers of Using Steroids

Athletes who use steroids believe that it improves their performance and increases their muscle mass and strength . However , the use of these drugs in bodybuilding and other sports causes side effects that are not good for the health of the athletes.

Anabolic Steroid Abuse

Anabolic steroid abuse comes with a number of risks for the athletes. These risks can lead to permanent physical or neurological damage .

In the case of androgenic anabolic steroids , they increases the risk of prostate gland enlargement and cancer in the prostate gland. It is also linked to an increased development of bone tumors in women .

Men who use anabolic steroids are also at risk of testicular atrophy , which can lead to infertility later in life . It can also cause erectile dysfunction in men.

In the case of anabolic-androgenic steroids such as testosterone and Dianabol , it can also lead to poor liver function that is irreversible .

Anastrozole

The use of anastrozole by female athletes is associated with adverse effects on bone health and reproductive function in women .

It can also cause cardiovascular side effects such as high blood pressure and fluid retention .

Testosterone

The use of testosterone by athletes can cause male pattern baldness and acne in both male and female athletes .

In men , it can also cause breast development in women since both testosterone and estrogen are produced in the body .

What Can Be Done to End This Problem ?

The use of illegal drugs for sports competition is widespread throughout the world. These drugs are used by athletes to help them improve their performance and gain more muscle size .

Unfortunately , using these drugs can have harmful effects on the athletes’ health in the long term .

However , there are a number of steps that can be taken to stop this problem from happening in the future .

To Stop Steroid Abuse in Sports

The first step is to educate athletes about the risks of using steroids .

Adidas and the IOC have come up with the ‘Never Say Never’ campaign to educate young people about the dangers of steroid abuse in sports.

This is the first time a professional sports organization has committed itself to prevent steroid abuse in youth sports as of 2015 , which is a great achievement .

Improved Education

The second step involves improved education in schools . Schools should educate students about the negative effects of steroid abuse on their health.

Sports leagues, coaches , and parents should also educate athletes about the dangers of using steroids .

Strong Penalties

The third step involves strong penalties for steroid abuse in sports. The governing body of sports should impose stronger penalties on athletes who use steroids in sports competition .

Deterring young athletes from using steroids should be one of the priority goals for all sports organizations .

Restrictive Policies

The fourth step is to implement tougher policies that stop steroid abuse in sports. These policies should target both the parents and young athletes .

For example , coaches and other sporting organizations should ban the use of steroids by young athletes before they start competing .

This will help parents understand why steroid abuse in sports is harmful for their children .

Restrictive Policies for Parents

The fifth step involves implementing strict policies on parents. Parents who encourage their children to use drugs for sports competition should be banned from watching their children’s sports matches .

Restricting parents will also help prevent young athletes from experimenting with steroids in the future .

Improved Sports Equipment

The sixth step is to improve the sports equipment used by athletes . Sports equipment should be made safer to reduce the risk of harmful use among young athletes.

Sports equipment used by athletes must display a clear set of warnings against drug use on the equipment .

Research in Steroids

The seventh step is to conduct more research on the use of steroids in sports. The effects of steroid use in sports competitions should be studied closely so that athletes can be educated about these risks .

Research will also give insight into how steroid abuse can be prevented in the future .

Restrictive Policy for Coaches

The eighth step is to implement stricter policies on coaches to prevent steroid abuse in sports .

For example , coaches may need a license that allows them to work with young athletes before being allowed to coach them in sports competition .

Coaches should also be required to have training on how to identify steroid abuse and know how to report suspicious drug usage to the authorities .