Winning at all Cost

As a previous collegiate athlete and spectator of sport, I have thought many times what it means to, "win at all cost." What does that phrase even mean? Training harder, eating better, playing harder, leading yourself before you lead others. Its something that phases an athletes mind, some take it to heart, and some take it, well, some take it to the injection. With saying that, this all means that steroids have become the biggest means to an end, the biggest mean of winning at all cost. In 2010 no one is shocked to hear someone has used steroids especially after the 2007 Mitchell Report, that the MLB put out, with names such as; McGuire, Sosa, Palmerio, Bonds. Marion Jones was also another name linked to steroid use representing the US in track. Recently, the NFL has had its share of problems with recent Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Cushing, and former Pro Bowler Shawn Merriman with failure to pass drug test dealing with steroid use and illegal substances. Needless to say athletes today and their "will to win," has crossed the line into obsession.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/1210/ ("Anabolic steroids and," 2010)

http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/steroids.html(("Anabolic steroids," 2010)

Today you never know who is using PED's (performance enhancing drugs), or who is doing it right and training their bodies to be the best athletes they can be. Some athletes frequently take two or more anabolic steroids together, mixing oral and/or indictable types, and sometimes adding other drugs, such as stimulants, painkillers, or growth hormones. This is called "stacking." The athlete believes that different drugs will produce greater strength or muscle size than by using just one drug. What they don't know, or choose to ignore, is the damage to the body that abuse of these drugs can cause ("Anabolic steroids and," 2010) . The effects of right now are far greater of the effects later. Athletes would be willing to give up their lives and future all for the glory of being the best, or being the greatest.

When Jose Conseco (a former MLB player, and bash brother with Mark McGuire) came clean about using steroids and how he influenced others to take them, and help them take them, the entire sporting world came to a screaming halt. Conseco released a book, Juiced, which talked about how he took steroids and helped other players around the league take steroids. His, book has been said to be a leading contributor in the Mitchell Report that was done in 2007. In turn the report set off a major buzz around leagues for athletes abusing PED's.

The visibility and resources associated with sports today have fueled massive research and development efforts, and this has dramatically increased the number and availability of performance enhancing substances (Coakley, 2009).

With the widespread and availability of steroids athletes don't even bother to think twice before using them. The definitely don't think of the side effects that come with power. Some of these side effects include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Impaired liver function
• Tumors
• Increased rate of muscle strains/ruptures
• Mood swings
• Depression

("Anabolic steroids and," 2010)

Specifically for Women problems can include:

• Increased risk of cervical and endometrial cancer
• Increased risk of osteoporosis
• Temporary infertility or sterility (reversible)
• Altered sex drive
• Birth defects in future children
• Changes in fat distribution
• Growth of facial and body hair
• Deepening of the voice

For Men these problems can be:

• Temporary infertility or sterility (reversible)
• Altered sex drive
• Prostate enlargement, and increased prostate cancer risk
• Irreversible breast enlargement
• Painful erections
• Shrinkage of the testicles
• Reduced levels of testosterone

("Anabolic steroids and," 2010)

Athletes today want to be the best, they want to succeed to the best of their ability so that in 20 or 30 years people can look back and say, "wow they were great at what they did." All these athletes have done now has taint their own history and possibly damaged the history of what was once there. The kids today growing up looking at their idols are getting the wrong idea and thinking to get ahead what do I really have to do? There could be generations at stake. So ask yourself this, what is the real way to win at all costs, is it taking something that is illegal and could cost your career, or is really putting in the extra effort, and pushing your body beyond limits that it has never seen.

Anabolic steroids and sports: winning at all costs. (2010, March 08). Retrieved from http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/1210/

Anabolic steroids. (2010, September 06). Retrieved from http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/steroids.html

Coakley, J. (2009). Sports in society. New York, New York: McGraw Hill Companies Inc.