Steroids have been used for many years now in order to increase performance. It has been used by a lot of athletes, most especially by weightlifters, baseball players and a lot more. This is because the great effect of using steroids like testosterone is an increase in the body’s weight and the building and toning of the muscles. Since joining a game under the influence of steroids is greatly unnatural, many debates have been done with regards to the limitations of steroid use in athletes. In addition, experts and authorities have also formulated and implemented penalties to those proven of steroid use.

Up to this point, those who violated the steroid policy have been punished. An example of this situation is with regards to the drug use of baseball stars. However, baseball was not treating all steroid cases equal especially if it involves some of their brightest stars including Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte. But for the 26 year-old pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Edinson Volquez, it was another story.

He was suspended for 50 games because he was positive for use of a performance-enhancing drug, which according to him was caused by a fertility drug. During this time, Volquez is recovering from a Tommy John surgery. In addition, he is found in the 60-day disabled list (DL). Since he can only pitch by the time the middle of the season comes, his suspension will not actually result to any missed field games.

Many were surprised and outraged by this decision and even his fellow Red player Bronson Arroyo said that he is also surprised that the authorities are letting him do that. Here are some loopholes of the current steroid use punishment system. Basically, many players, like Rodriguez and Mark McGwire, who were accused of using steroids said that they just used steroids in order to recover from an injury a lot faster. If the authorities let this pass, then many more players will use this as a reason since the suspension that they will get will end before they can return to the field.

After breaking Roger Maris record, Mark McGwire and other baseball athletes were suspected of steroid use. The Congress conducted a hearing and during the talk, the main focus was about protecting professional sports organizations and they didn’t talk much about the danger in steroid use. This has always been the case since a hearing was first conducted in 1990. Now, prohormones have also been included in the list of regulated or controlled drugs.

As of this time, the use of steroids has not declined. Athletes most especially weightlifters still continue to use these drugs in order to enhance their performance. As a matter of fact, a survey of 12th graders last 2000 reported that 2.5% of them have used steroids even once in their lives. In the light that the authorities are debating on the proper limitations and punishments of athletes using steroids, the medical community is also conducting studies on the legitimate use of anabolic steroids in speeding the recovery of patients suffering from AIDS, burns, cancer, osteoporosis and a lot more.

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