Mar 29 2009
Drug Testers Conduct Steroid Talk to get a Leg Up Against Steroid Makers
As the testing technologies for steroids and performance enhancing drugs get better, makers of designer steroids and performance enhancing drugs constantly improve and create new products or drugs to elude testing and to gain more customers. In the long haul, it is the drug testers that end up keeping up with illicit drug makers.
To counter the problem and possibly get an edge over drug makers, drug testers and anti-doping advocates employ programs and strategies that spread information and knowledge on the world of steroids through presentations and talks. Olympic drug tester and Professor of Medicine at Buffalo, Dr. Monica Spaulding, is one of the people who actively give out presentations. She recently gave a talk regarding steroids use at the Health and Sciences Library on South Campus. Dr. Spaulding provided in-depth information to students and attendees about steroids in the sports world.
One of the students, Jeremy Cohen, an Exercise Science major and a Junior at Buffalo, said that he found the talk very informative. Cohen commented that it was interesting to know how the Olympians were tested especially since he had friends who are steroid users and he was curious about the side-effects of steroids and to know more about the substance.
Dr. Spaulding is a well-regarded expert when it comes to steroid control. She was the former director of admissions at the Medical Scientist Training Program in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and is currently the chair of Institutional Review Board. The U.S. Olympic Committee certified Spaulding in as a crew chief in 1993 for the doping control program. Since that time, she has been a drug tester in four Olympics.
The USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) is the organization that tests all U.S. athletes across all sports organizations. In Dr. Spaulding’s talk, she mentioned that the USADA spends an average of $2 million a year for drug testing programs and research and development of tests.
As of recent times, the USADA has been concentrating on the two most prevalent drugs in the U.S. today, which according to Dr. Spaulding, are anabolic steroids and Human Growth Hormones (HGH). These two banned performance enhancing substances have increased in popularity over the years and are widely used by athletes, from professionals to students, today.
Spaulding says that the use of anabolic steroids as a means to build muscle (as opposed to medical use) is largely secretive and underground and thus researching its effects can be difficult. Potential risks that steroid users face include liver abnormalities, cardiac disease, depression, sterility, and even cancer. Dr. Spaulding also believes that the abuse of anabolic steroids among high school and college students is increasing, and that in these young athletes minds’, the benefits of steroids may far outweigh the risks especially for those looking to further their career. Because of the lack of knowledge and information on the dangerous effects of steroids, many of these younger athletes start on steroid early.
Spalding adds that a good educational program to make the student aware that there are real risks involved in using steroids can be a big help to deter steroid use.
