Steroids Should Not Be Banned a Steroid

Steroids Should Not Be Banned A steroid is an organic compound that occurs in plants and animals. They have many functions, including respiration, tissue building, and the production of sex hormones. Anabolic steroids are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone on the body, increasing protein synthesis within cells. This causes cellular tissues to build up in muscles, the ability for those muscles to work harder under stress, and of course, masculine characteristics (body hair, etc.).

Anabolic steroids were synthesized in the 1930s and have been used since to stimulate bone growth and appetite, treat certain immune conditions, and reduce inflammation in certain areas. In fact the American College of Sports Medicine says that individuals who have an adequate of high protein diet can increase their body weight and increase muscular strength through high-intensity exercise and steroid use (ACSM, 2010). With proper and safe monitoring, though, steroid use should be allowed and not legally banned.

A large part of watching sports is the excitement that comes from watching peaks of human athletic ability, and steroid use would only accentuate that. Steroid use would level the international playing field, too, since different countries have different rules and professionals who are banned from their use are certainly at a disadvantage. From a business point-of-view, the higher the level of play, the more fans, advertising contracts, and ancillary dollars into the franchise, which has a huge economic boom to the location of the venue.

Steroids also help the athlete's body recover faster from injury, and substances like human growth hormone, when combined with steroids, can literally strengthen the damaged muscle or tendon much faster, allowing the professional to be back in the game sooner. Finally, U.S. athletic organizations should not be charged with policing performance enhancing drugs -- after all, there is a fine line between muscle building creatine and illegal steroid injections (Smith, 2012).

The contrary view holds that doping threatens the health of the athlete, side effects that can last decades, some that can even ruin the person's ability to have children and cause cancer. Use of steroids so increases muscle growth that it, at times, stretches certain areas more than others, increasing the risks of tears, tendon injuries, and even capillary damage (nose bleeds, etc.). Psychologically, steroids contribute to severe depression before and after use, as well as schizophrenic like symptoms (hearing voices, etc.).

A number of steroid users had suicidal tendencies, too, even years after discontinuing their use. While it is true that use of anabolic steroids can increase muscle mass and improve athletic ability -- more the edge for those already at the high end of their profession- there are also other consequences.

Steroids can cause cancer, especially liver cancer; they damage the liver and kidneys, often causing toxins to build up because the liver and kidney cannot flush them- thus having the opposite effect on the quality of life on the athlete. Depending on the metabolism of the individual, steroids can also cause sterility and impotence even years after use (Ashby, 2010; Hoffman and Ratamess, 2006). Although most of the world's major sporting organizations have banned steroid use, there are still available to anyone who really wants them.

Their use, even in practice situations allow individuals to practice longer and reduce some of the inflammation that usually results with long periods of exercise. Their use allows the athlete to life more, practice longer, exercise harder in a shorter amount of time; honing their performance to.