While researching the benefits and risks of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) and how it affects athletes, I came across an ironic site- the Benefits of Steroid Use produced by Livestrong. On September 11, 2017, the Livestrong organization produced an article showing the benefits of athletes using steroids. This is a huge contradiction to most sport management organization regulations. Livestrong is the organization created by Lance Armstrong, the cyclist who lost all sponsors and most of his winning titles from the Tour de France when he was found to have used PEDs. How ironic that his site would produce an article showing athletes of the BENEFITS of using steroids.
The article begins that there are sport figures who are willing to risk their health, employment and freedom to gain an “edge” according to Tomas Linnaeus who wrote the article for the site. (Yeah one of the most famous athletes caught “doping” was the creator of the foundation!) He goes on to discuss the muscular benefits of PEDs, increased strength and healing rates.
Thankfully he goes on to discuss that there are risks associated with the usage of steroids such as unwanted libido and aggression (roid rage) and disfiguring acne and hair. He also touches on a critical risk to the athlete with steroid usage which is cardiac effects and damage.
I am not sure what exactly he was hoping to accomplish with the article but it is a very ironic piece. Having an organization created by an athlete who has been punished for steroid usage, create an article that discusses the benefits of steroid usage definitely seems like a bad idea to me. It can cost a person their entire livelihood.
Eric Walter
Source:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/143749-effects-steroids-body/
Group 4-Sport Management Seminar 