Drugs in Sports

March 25, 2010                                                                                   Brenna Smith & Leandro Carrasco

Drugs in Sports
Did you know:
• Anabolic steroids are chemically manufactured drugs. They are a man-made version of testosterone, the male sex hormone.
• Some athletes take 5 to 10 times the amount that a doctor might prescribe for legitimate medical uses. Some body builders and weight lifters may take 200 times the prescribed amount.
• Steroids are taken by mouth or by injection. Athletes usually take them in a cycle that lasts from four to 18 weeks. The cycle includes starting with low doses of more than one steroid, then gradually increasing the dose, then stopping use entirely. This is called “stacking.”

Reasons for steroid use:
• Athletes and body builders take anabolic steroids to make their muscles bigger and stronger. The drug also keeps their energy high so they can train longer and harder without getting tired and sore.
• Some men take steroids because they think they will look better with bigger muscles.
• There are a few very specific medical uses for anabolic steroids, including treatment for some forms of breast cancer and blood disorders and for people who are not growing properly.

Long-term Affects:
After heavy use of anabolic steroids over a long period of time, a person may experience:
• An increase in muscle size and rapid weight gain (5 to 10 kg in 6 to 12 weeks)
• Acne (pimples and cysts on the face, upper back, shoulders and arms)
• A “moon face” (the face becomes round in appearance)
• Less flexible muscles and ruptured tendons
• Jaundice (the whites of the eyes or the skin take on a yellowish tinge, which is a sign of liver problems)
• Liver damage that cannot be cured
• Stroke or heart attack caused by blood clots and hardening of the arteries
• Paranoid feelings (feeling scared or suspicious for no reason)
• A tendency to be violent in their behavior.
•Stunted growth. When young people...