During our younger years, we tend to enjoy everything about life since being young is a privilege, it is a freedom. However, most of us have enjoyed it uncontrollably and have even neglected some important things like health that leads to an abuse and ends up to a horrific result. That’s when we start to feel pain and any kind of illness as we grow older. Now, one of the most common diseases that older people have is rheumatoid arthritis.

As defined, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic, systematic autoimmune disorder that significantly causes the immune system to attack joints causing an inflammation which is called arthritis, and destruction. Furthermore, it damages some of the organs such as the lungs and the skin. Having this disorder is a very disabling and painful condition that can dreadfully leads to substantial loss of functioning and mobility. Usually, it can be diagnosed through blood testing such as the test called rheumatoid factor and of course X-rays which is performed by rheumatologist who is the expert in the diseases particularly on joints as well as connective tissues.

Fortunately this disorder can be treated. There are actually various treatments that are available nowadays. The first is the non-pharmacological treatment which includes physical therapy as well occupational therapy.  There are actually different kinds of drugs used like the Analgesia also known as the painkillers or another option would be the anti-inflammatory drugs and of course the steroids. Indeed, the steroids. You probably often hear them with regards to sports because they’ve really have some issues with the athletes, in some way, they are illegal. Athletes are prohibited to use this since it can affect their performance and not to mention their sanity as well.

However, in Rheumatic people, steroids can be very significant. Steroids are essentially used to suppress the symptoms of Rheumatic Arthritis. Studies shows that low doses of steroids can inhibit the joint damage that is used in the early phase of the rheumatoid arthritis and there’s an evidence for that. And this evidence significantly supports combining the pills with the standard medications in the first two years after the diagnosis. During the review, the steroids that is studied which is known as the glucocorticoids and that include the very well known anti-inflammatory prednisone. This medication is actually prescribed in the first few months after the diagnosis to relieve the Rheumatoid Arthritis’ discomfort until these slower-acting drugs starts protecting the joints. They have been shown to prolong survival in severely septic patients in the clinical trials. Low-steroids have given hope to more patients who have believed that their diseases are not incurable. To know more about this, consulting your doctor is still the wisest move.

Plus, low-steroids has suggests negative side effects and if there is, such effect is just “modest” which is the same to those of sham treatments. Such discovery has provided the RA patients with new hope to treat such disease. Low-dose steroids can also treat other kinds of diseases which mean they’ll help more patients who have once lose hope because of their diseases. But still the best cure for all of this is to have a healthy lifestyle. Remember that “health is wealth” and it is the most important thing that you can give to your body, enjoy life but make sure you are not neglecting your body’s needs.

In June 2003, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) had received an anonymous phone call disclosing information regarding the manufacture, distribution and use of steroids involving the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO) and some high profile athletes. Later revealing himself to be US sprint coach Trevor Graham, the informant submitted to the agency a syringe that had traces of the steroid called tetrahydrogestinone (THG) or ‘the clear.’ For a time, detection of this substance was impossible, making it more attractive for distributors and users alike; but at that time the evidence was submitted, a procedure had already been developed to detect it. The substance was confirmed to be ‘the clear,’ and so investigation began. On September 3, 2003, BALCO facilities were searched, and further evidence against them was obtained. Among these were containers of steroids and growth hormones, financial and medical records, and lists of the names of people to whom these were distributed. On the list was Major League Baseball (MLB) player Barry Bonds.

On September 5, 2003, the home of Greg Anderson, Bonds’ personal trainer, was searched, and investigators were able to find and seize documents which were according to them prove that Bonds had been using steroids for at least three years, running from 2001 to 2003. A grand jury investigation into the case began on October 5, 2003, and on December 4, 2003, Bonds was given the chance to speak before the jury in his defense.

Bonds admitted and denied allegations against him. He admits working with Greg Anderson during the baseball season following the investigation as well as receiving from him certain clear and cream substances and supplements, in addition to physical training and workout. However, he was told that these were flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for his arthritis, legitimate substances along with the other nutritional supplements he received from his trainer. The federal prosecutors presented the seized documents indicating that these substances were actually the then undetected steroids – the clear, which was taken orally, and the cream, which was rubbed onto the body – and that he had been using these since 2001. They also presented a detailed list of drugs he used, among which were insulin, human growth hormone, Clomid and Depo-Testosterone. Bonds maintained all through out the investigation that he had not known whether or not the substances were steroids. He adds that his relationship with Anderson was not only that of a trainee and a trainer but that of friendship, for which reason he trusted and did not question his decisions in handling the training.

The prosecution successfully proved, however, that did pass from BALCO to the athletes, including Barry Bonds. On October 18, 2005, the San Francisco court sentenced Victor Conte, BALCO chief, to four months in jail and another four in home confinement; Vice President James Valente got probation; while Anderson received six months, three of which will be spent in jail. Conte pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply steroids; Valente to steroid distribution; and Anderson to money laundering and steroid distribution. This conviction, much more admission of distributing steroids have huge impact on Bonds, both as one of the athletes identified as working with Anderson and BALCO, as well as one who denied having used steroids or at least knowing that he had been using steroids. The case now turns to Barry Bonds. Did he or did he not lie under oath and before the grand jury when he denied the allegations set to him? Offering testimony to the case in the first place affords Barry Bonds immunity; however, if he lies under oath, he may still be charged for perjury.

Ever since the introduction of steroids into the world of sports in the late 1950s, their use has been a very controversial issue. Even more debates have come out, whether they are safe to use or not for performance enhancement especially to people that are into hard sports like football and baseball. For those who don’t have an idea of what steroids are and what they can do, here’s a short and clear definition and explanation.

In the world of sports, steroids are defined as any group of synthetic hormones that are taken by athletes as enhancers. They are derivatives of male hormone testosterone. Steroids have the capacity to temporarily increase the size of the user’s muscles. With this prevailing effect, athletes use them as a way to gain an advantage to other players. Some sports organizations even have come into serious deliberations on whether or not to ban this kind of drug. This is for the reason that they see steroids as a way to gain an unfair advantage over other athletes.

Though majority of reviews would condemn the
use of steroids by athletes, some noted benefits should not be overlooked. The effects of this drug are very plain to see. Anyone taking this drug gain mass and strength very quickly. This is beneficial for weightlifters who don’t want to work hard just to achieve that ideal built, muscles, and weight. Another is that, there is a large increase in the person’s ability to run, which is good for athletes, especially for football and baseball players. They become more agile and competitive.

On the health side, steroids are considered as a safe and effective drug to persons with low testosterone levels. The drug can effectively normalize testosterone levels and may even improve symptoms over a very short period of time without any side effects. With this proven good effect, this only shows the drug’s ability to leverage the person’s condition.

Today, the use of steroids has trickled down to even younger athletes who face fierce pressure to be stronger and faster and gain a competitive edge to others. So why do athletes resort to this kind of drug? Steroids guarantee bold results. You don’t need to work hard and try almost all the impossible just to achieve that ideal body, agility, and strength. In short, this drug works miracles. Though steroids are hated by most sports organizations, still its positive benefits should not be taken for granted.

Who doesn’t want to gain instantaneous physical results? Especially for athletes where their sport demands body power and built, steroids are the ultimate answer. Taking this drug is the discretion of the user. Since most doctors wouldn’t probably prescribe this drug for use in sports, no once can deny the fact that steroids actually makes one totally competitive and having that unmatched edge over others. For people finding a quick answer on enhancing their physical performance, especially in people indulged in hard sports like football and baseball, steroids are the sure way to achieving that physical independence and power!

The use of anabolic steroids for non-medical purposes is illegal and is banned, especially by most sports organizations according to the report published by ESPN.com, worldwide sports leader in providing comprehensive sports coverage. However, despite of the implemented rule; many among the athletes are still using these performance-enhancing drugs to significantly boost their competency in the game. ESPN.com stated in its report that athletes who use anabolic steroids are risking their health since these drugs can cause severe physical and psychological side effects.

Although, Robert I. Abrams, American politician and lawyer, published in a liberal novel website The Huffington Post that steroids including human growth hormone are purposely generated for medicinal use. He said these drugs are helpful for healing and invigorating effects. In fact, doctors prescribe these drugs to non-athlete person for therapeutic purposes. But he added that the case of steroids use for athletes is different though because they reach the point of abusing and misusing the drugs, which can pose threat to their health. Unfortunately despite of the awareness, Abrams stated that the use of performance enhancing drugs is still increasing.

Assistant Sports Editor, Derek Gibbons of The MCLA Beacon, a college media publication, wrote a feature article concerning to the athletes’ use of steroids entitled “How Steroids Cheat the Game and the Fans.” As what was also discussed by Abrams, Gibbons also cited the benefits brought by steroids to the field of medicine. He explained that steroids are helpful in developing body mass and forming body muscle. But his published article tackles most of the negative effects brought by misuse of steroids use. According to him, whenever athletes are questioned as to why they use the banned-drugs, their answer is always because these drugs help them gain an advantage. Sadly, when athletes use steroids, they no longer consider their harmful effects. Some of the harmful effects caused by steroids are the following: kidney and liver damage; increased cancer and acne possibility; weight loss; and many more.

Therefore, Gibbons concluded that using steroids to top the game is a stupid decision. Apart from risking oneself, this is a blatant form of cheating to those athletes who are patiently enduring the hard work of trainings to be competitive enough. Those kinds of athletes who are self-disciplined and hard working are the ones who deserve the honor and respect. And all of those athletes who are depending on steroids deserve nothing but disgrace. Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Jim Thorpe, Joe DiMaggio, and Ben Hogan are only some of the athletes who are being looked-up because of their greatness in the field of sports without involving themselves to any form of performance-enhancing drugs.

Gibbons stated that no matter what, steroids use for the athletes will always be viewed as a form of cheating. If an athlete uses this, he neither deserves to play the game nor reap any laurel. He clarified that steroids are good drugs for medicinal purposes but it is a bad medicine if used for a wrong motive. Therefore, steroids will remain as a big no-no in Olympic Games because it will only ruin and tarnish the event. For sure, people watch the Olympic Games for the purpose of watching a well and fairly-played competition by self-disciplined athletes and not to witness those overly aggressive Olympians. For this reason, anyone who will use steroids to top other athletes and win the game will always remain a loser in the end.

After two times of failing doping test in her career, Ukrainian silver medalist’s heptathlete Lyudmila Blonska was banned by Ukraine National Athletics Federation along with her coach. The 31 years old Blonska had been tested positive for steroids for the second time around claimed by the Sports Daily website last August 20 of this year.

According to the report of AFP, Blonska had previously faced a two year ban when she was found out to be positive for the steroid stanozol in 2003; the same drug that was used by the tainted sprinter Ben Johnson. Again, Blonska was tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs during this time. She was traced positive for anabolic steroid methyl-testosterone after she achieved the silver medal in Beijing Olympics heptathlon competition.

Because of this, Blonska was labeled as heptathlon cheater by the British leading heptathlete Kelly Sortherton when she won the silver medal in the world’s championships last year according to the report of RTE Sport. Also, Sotherton bluntly questioned the legality of Blonska’s world championship medal. Sotherton’s reaction may not really appear too surprising for many because of the cheat Blonska had committed, not just once but twice. “We don’t support cheats!”Sotherton emphasized. She also added her clear doubt to Blonska’s credibility as an athlete by saying: “She cheated once, who says she is not cheating again.”

The AFP report last August 21 of this year displays the disgust of Sotherton to the disgraced Blonska as she tarnished their event. Her disgust can clearly be perceived in one of her lines featured in the said report: “We would rather see (Carolina) Kluft win because we support her; we know that she is clean and we want her to win as we will always support the clean athletes.”

Moreover, according to the report published by the AFP, the International Olympic Committee Commission (IOC) had met right after the test of her sample B and agreed to eliminate her from the list of heptathlon final. One IOC source stated that the disciplinary commission had decided to provisionally suspend Blonska prior to the executive board meeting. However, Blonska was decided to be disqualified by everyone as it appears more proper if logic will be followed.

Blonska has also marked a good name in Olympics by several winnings. However, her then honored name was tarnished with disgrace since she was linked to steroids use. And presently, the glory brought by the silver medal she won from Beijing Olympic was stripped from her. Now, the medal will go into the hands of the American Hyleas Fountain. Meanwhile, the bronze medal will go to Tatiana Chernova of Russia. Her present position in the long jump has been also laid to Nigerian Blessing Okagbare. Okagbare completed 13th in qualifying.

So far, Blonska is the fifth drug case involved in the Beijing Games. Others were Maria Isabel Moreno, the Spanish cyclist who was tested positive for EPO; Kim-Jong-Su, the North Korean shooting medalist; Do Thi Ngan Thuong, a Vietnamese gymnast; and Fani Halkia, Greece’s 2004 Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion who was tested positive for the prohibited drugs at a training camp.

But before Blonska finally leave her sports field, she confessed in the report published by the AFP that she was only compelled by her husband and her coach Sergui Blonsky to take the prohibited drug. She also added that her coach Blonsky had beaten her just to make her comply. Whether Blonska is a guilty for cheating or a victim of greedy people surrounding her, the offense was already done—her name was already tarnished.

The 27-year-old Spanish cyclist Maria Isabel Moreno was the first athlete to fail the doping test in 2008 Beijing Olympics reported by the Olympics 2008 News. Moreno was tested positive for the performance-enhancing blood booster EPO. According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Spokeswoman, Giselle Davies, said that Moreno was immediately disqualified from the games after she failed a doping test performed on July 31.

Because of the incident, Moreno was laid down with two-year ban for cheating. Apart from that, she also faced several sanctions included in the cycling body. Los Angeles Times featured the summarized sanctions of the IOC Executive Board for Moreno for her steroid use involvement. Two of the sanctions are her disqualification from the XXIX Olympiad Games in Beijing 2008 and the cancellation and withdrawal of her Olympic accreditation and identity card. Meanwhile, her file was transferred to the International Cycling Union (UCI), which is asked to do further action contained by its own competency.

Moreno immediately left China the night after she heard her test result; failing to pursue her scheduled competition for the road race for women and individual home trial. An official of Spanish cycling federation who escorted Moreno to the drug test in Olympic village said that Moreno had been crying upon knowing the result and requested to return to Madrid right away just before the result was formally announced.

Cycling officials claimed they have given enough warnings to the athletes just before the Beijing Games began reported by the Fox Sports. According to them, following the rites of the weightlifters when it comes to steroid use will only result to disqualification from the games. Unfortunately, the lesser-performing athletes like Moreno might have wanted to boost her agility for the competition reason why she relied on performance-enhancing substances.

According to the report of The Earth Times, cycling has been linked to doping for the past years and Spain, the country represented by Moreno, is actually one of the countries that are overwhelmed with substance abuse. Examples of other Spanish athletes who were linked to steroid use are Manuel Beltran, Nevado, and Moses Duenas. The three of them tested positive for EPO, the same drug that was used by Moreno. Currently, Moreno is the latest cyclist to test positive for performance-enhancing drugs after Marta Bastinelli, the world’s road race champion, and Riccardo Ricco, the Italy’s Tour de France stage winner.

Now, Spanish officials are calling the attention of Moreno to collaborate with the authorities according to the report of Los Angeles Times. They are asking Moreno to confess the identity of her performance-enhancer drugs supplier.

Apparently, what happened to Moreno is such a disgraceful event. She had placed her name in shame due to wrong use of performance-enhancing drugs. Such event is certainly strange for she had wasted all her efforts on her hard trainings by opting to cheating; giving her a public humiliation in return. Sure, if only she played the game fairly she could have spared her name from getting tarnished including the name of the country she is representing.