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Legalize Steroids

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Legalize Steroids
Lacey Wiley
Mr. Thrasher
15 May 2013
English 102 Section 08
Performance Enhancing Drugs
“Hasn’t our collective experience taught us that prohibition doesn’t work and that we can’t totally kid-proof society?” emphasized Gary Cartwright in his article “Truth and Consequences.” In regard to the utilization of performance enhancing drugs in sports, Cartwright explained that in order to simplify society all substances should be legalized. Any type of substance that is used to improve someone’s ability athletically is considered a performance enhancing drug. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an organization that is committed to abolishing all anabolic substances in professional sports. The WADA is responsible for many athletic organization bans against steroids in sports. Some fans and the public may view that performance enhancing drugs should remain illegal. On the other hand, certain fans and citizens may believe that all types of anabolic steroids should be legalized. However, the decision to utilize steroids is an athlete’s personal choice. Anabolic steroids are unavoidable and will ultimately be more beneficial to society; therefore, all types of performance enhancing drugs should be legalized. The WADA’s ban against anabolic steroids in sports should be removed due to the increase of excitement in sports, the decrease in cheating and controversy, the improvement of health and ability, and the salvage of money.
First of all, fans would be more intrigued to watch sports if performance enhancing drugs were legalized. Anabolic steroids enhance a person’s ability, skill, strength, and courage. They would even cause athletes to become more aggressive. For example, fans would gain even more excitement if they were watching the intense tackles of a football game. These factors all make athletic performances more enjoyable. From the late 1980s through the late 2000s, "The Steroids Era" defined the period of time in Major League Baseball (MLB) when



Cited: Allison, Lincoln. "Faster, Stronger, Higher." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 08 Aug. 2004. Web. 05 May 2013. Cartwright, Gary. "Truth and Consequences." Texas Monthly. Texas Monthly, Apr. 2008. Web. 05 May 2013. "Did You Know? Little-Known Facts in the Performance Enhancing Drugs Debate." ProCon, 22 Nov. 2011. Web. 05 May 2013. “Frequently Asked Questions.” World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Agency, Nov. 2011. Web. 05 May 2013. Gledhill, Norman. “Blood Doping and Related Issues: A Brief Review.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 14. 3 (1982): 183-189. Web. LeMouse, Mack. "Positive Effects of Steroids." Health Guidance. Health Guidance, 2013. Web. 05 May 2013. TYT Sports. “Ray Lewis Taking Steroids?” YouTube. YouTube, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 May 2013. Simmons, Bill. “Daring to Ask the PED Question.” Grantland. Grantland, 01 Feb. 2013. Web. 05 May 2013. Stannard, J.P., & Bucknell, A.L. “Rupture of the Triceps Tendon Associated with Steroid Injections. American Journal of Sports Medicine 21.3 (1993) 482–85. Web. 02 May 2013. “Steroids Era.” ESPN MLB. ESPN, 05 Dec. 2012. Web. 05 May 2013.

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