Steroid Legalization Rebuttal
Rebuttal Article “Why it’s time to legalize steroids in professional sports” written by Chris Smith of Forbes Magazine argues that to level the playing field of professional sports it would be beneficial to legalize the use of performance enhancing drugs. Mr. Smith’s ideals that professional sports would be a fairer, more entertaining version of itself if performance enhancing drugs were legal, is an incredibly irresponsible and impudent declaration. Mr. Smith states “The primary reason why performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) are outlawed in professional sports is that they give users an unfair advantage over the rest of the field” and that “legalizing PEDs would make life much easier for professional sports organizations currently tasked with managing convoluted anti-doping policies.” The sheer consideration that allowing dangerous drugs or supplements such as human growth hormones, steroids, stimulants or creatine to the already sensationalized world of professional sports would be a travesty of epic proportions for the health and viability of both the athletes and competitions themselves.
In addition to the legalization of performance enhancing drugs for athletes, Mr. Smith suggests that it would make things easier on the multi-billion dollar leagues in which these athletes compete such as, Major League Baseball and the National Football League. To consider that the leagues in which these athletes compete would simply want the legalization of performance enhancing drugs to save themselves time, money and credibility in trying to develop a drug testing system that is actually effective, is absurd. The inherent health risks are the single biggest reason to never allow for the legalization of performance enhancing drugs. According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency some effects of steroid, human growth hormones and stimulant are as follows liver damage, premature closure of growth plates, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety, fits of anger, dependency,
In addition to the legalization of performance enhancing drugs for athletes, Mr. Smith suggests that it would make things easier on the multi-billion dollar leagues in which these athletes compete such as, Major League Baseball and the National Football League. To consider that the leagues in which these athletes compete would simply want the legalization of performance enhancing drugs to save themselves time, money and credibility in trying to develop a drug testing system that is actually effective, is absurd. The inherent health risks are the single biggest reason to never allow for the legalization of performance enhancing drugs. According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency some effects of steroid, human growth hormones and stimulant are as follows liver damage, premature closure of growth plates, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety, fits of anger, dependency,
References: Effects of steroid, doping and performace enhancing drugs. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2013, from usada.org website: http://www.usada.org/effects-peds/ Smith, C. (2012, August 24). Why it’s time to legalize steroids in professional sports. Retrieved April 20, 2013, from Forbes.com website: http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2012/08/24/ why-its-time-to-legalize-steroids-in-professional-sports/