What causes an athlete to forego all of the rules and regulations placed in front of them and decide to use performance-enhancing drugs (PED) such as steroids? What causes these individuals to reach the point in which they believe that is the only option to gain the improvement in the timeline or method they need to get it? We have witnessed many athletes lose all of their reputations, skills and livelihoods when they are discovered to be using PEDs.
The Mayo Clinic has published many different articles about the dangers of PEDs and how it can impact the health of an athlete both in the short-term as well as the long-term. According to Mayo Clinic Staff, the main usage for PEDs is to enhance the testosterone production in the body. When more testosterone is produced, the faster, stronger etc. the body can become.
Although testosterone is a hormone, the imbalance of the amount of testosterone in the body can have damaging effects when prolonged. According to the Mayo clinic, the athletes work out harder and stronger and recover quicker from workouts so the athlete’s experiences less damage during a session.
Clearly with any hormone there are advantages and medical reasons that something could be taken. Doctors prescribe hormone treatments to treat many ailments, however if a person is an athlete and their levels are increased, they will have consequences to pay when caught.
Eric Walter
Reference:
Group 4-Sport Management Seminar 