In the last decade many records have been broken in the world of athletics, is this do to harder training and work ethic or the ignorant testing of anabolic steroids. With technological advances the enhancement of athletes is at the fingertips of scientists. With one shot an athlete could up testosterone levels by over a hundred percent. Is this safe? Or is the real question is this fair to the athletes who years ago did not have this option. Researchers have examined such supplements as dinabol and nandrolene and have found that their structures are unstable maybe unnoticeable at the time but will definitely show up in the later future.In the past five years the illegal industry has made an estimated hundred million dollars a year. (Getz p.2) The authorities have been trying to crack down on the availability of the drugs but have been unsuccessful. Drug testing though has effectively reduced the incidence of steroid use in some sports. Penalties of violations have also increased tremendously. “Drug testing is only effective as the sanctions that it carries, athletes must understand that it’s not worth risking a career by using steroids.”(Getz p.2) Not only are these actions being taken at the collegiate and professional level but at the High School level also. It appears that the newfound use of these drugs by professional athletes has acted as an excuse for younger athletes to use them. “We are role models whether we like it or not”, says Derek Jeter (shortstop for the New York Yankees).The testing and disguising of these supplements should be the least worry of the athletes. The side effects are what stick out the most; symptoms such as premature baldness, aggressive behavior, and prostate enlargement in males are just a few. (Voy p.13) The enlargement of the prostate was how Dr. Ziegler determined that the Soviet athletes were using testosterone boosters in the 1950’s. (Voy p.13) Th...
