First Pro, Then Steriods?

By Shanae Williams
In today’s sports world playing the best game and winning top honor can stress out even the best of us. With stress comes the desire to be the best at any means. To some athletes, this means turning to steroids. Steroids are just a class of drug. There are two types of steroids: Anabolic and androgenic. Anabolic refers to muscle building and Androgenic increases masculine characteristics. Steroids may enhance the performance of any player but there are serious side effects to consider.
The effects are different for both men and women. Some include changes in mood, personal appearance and paranoia. However, these effects do little to discourage athletes for taking steroids. When players take steroids they do not care about how it’s going to effect them, they care about how they are going to win the next game. Abuse of anabolic steroids, however, can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible.
There have been reports that players in professional football, baseball, track and field and weight lifting have been taking steroids. The allegations are not confined to men, either; females are linked to this ring as well. Runner Marion Jones, who became the first woman to win five medals in track and field at the same Olympics in the 2000 games in Sydney, admitted to using performance-enhancing substances after years of denial. Jones even admitted to using these substances before her wins during the Sydney games. Jones had been under scrutiny ever since her husband at the time, C.J. Hunter, failed several tests in 2000. Jones stood by Hunter, telling everyone how a great he was. After her admission, Jones retired from track and field. In addition, Jones had to give back the five medals that she won in 2000 Olympics to the USADA. One of the medals came from the 4×400-meter relay: a team relay. Due to this, Jones’ teammates have faced pressure to return their medals, something that some of them are not too happy about.
Barry Bonds, one of the best players on the San Francisco Giants, broke Henry Aaron’s all time home run record of 755 this season. Bonds has already placed his named in to the hall of fame. However, Bonds has been hounded by reports he has taken HGH (human growth hormone). Kimberly Bell, Bond’s ex-girlfriend has even stated that she knew Bonds has taken steroids.With this in mind, should Bonds be called the home run king?
However, Bonds is not the only baseball player to be linked to steroids. Reports link New York Mets player Scott Schoeneweis, as well as New York Yankees players Jason Giambi and Andy Pettite to steroids. However, There are countless other players under investigation.
What is the real need for anyone to take steroids? What wrong with old-fashioned talent? Player these days need to learn something from legends before them: hard work pays off. When Babe Ruth joined the Yankees in 1920 he proved to everyone that he was an outstanding player. What makes the steroids use even more upsetting is the fact that young children look up to these players. No player should be allowed to take drugs just because they might help win big.