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.

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