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Steroids Abuse in Baseball

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Steroids Abuse in Baseball
Steroid Abuse Hurts Baseball The abuse of steroids among players in Major League Baseball is corrupting the image of America's Pastime as well as endangering the health of those who use the illegal substances. The lack of testing and punishment for the use of illegal substances like steroids in the Major Leagues portrays a negative image to aspiring young athletes. They see their role models using steroids and becoming better athletes rather than seeing suspensions for the illegal behavior or the negative health effects. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic substances which increase skeletal muscle growth and increase male hormone production. Steroids are legal only through prescription. They are often prescribed for ailments in which the body does not grow correctly because of a lack of testosterone (NIDA InfoFacts, np).
Steroids are taken either orally or through an injection. The most common oral steroids are anadrol, oaxadrin, dianabol, and winstrol. The most common injected steroids are deca-durabolin, durabolin, depo-testosterone, and equipoise. There are also legal steroidal supplements such as dehydroepian-drosterone and androstenedione (NIDA Research, np).
The effects of steroids depend on the reason for the use of the drugs. Legally prescribed steroids are portioned so that the user receives only the desired effects such as increased testosterone and muscle growth. Negative effects mainly come from the illegal use of steroids. When steroids are abused major negative effects such as cancer, tumors, and increased blood pressure can occur. Lesser negative side effects are gender specific. The higher levels of testosterone in males may cause shrinking of the testicles, baldness, and the growth of breasts. In woman the testosterone can cause facial hair, baldness, and deepening of the voice (NIDA InfoFacts, np).
The most serious affects of steroid use can be fatal as they were in the case of former Major League Baseball (MLB) MVP



Cited: Associated Press. Bonds admitted to using substances thought to be steroids. 3 December. 2004. ESPN.com. 27 March. 2005. . Bodley, Hal. Baseball officials announce tougher steroids policy. 12 January. 2005. USATODAY.com. 27 March. 2005. . Cocaine and opiates found in Caminiti 's body. 1 November. 2004. ESPN.com News Services. 27 March. 2005. . Davis, Tom. Davis/Waxman Letter to MLB and MLBPA on MLB Testing Policy. 17 March. 2005. Committee on Governement Reform. 27 March. 2005. . ESPN.com 's Steroid Hearing Scorecard. 17 March. 2005. ESPN.com. 27 March. 2005. . NIDA - Research Report Series - Anabolic Steroids Abuse. 4 February. 2005. The National Institute on Drug Abuse. 27 March. 2005. . NIDA InfoFacts: Steroids (Anabolic-Androgenic). March. 2005. The National Institute on Drug Abuse. 27 March. 2005. . "Steroid User Canseco Names Names." 60 Minutes. By Mike Wallace. CBS. 13 February. 2005.

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