It’s no secret that PED use in sports
is running rampant. Banning PEDs without first properly understanding them is
almost as reckless as just letting athletes use them at will. While there are a
large number of athletes using PEDs for illicit gains, there are actually good
uses for PEDs.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids
or AAS are often used to help heal muscle tissues after an injury or surgery,
bringing muscles back to pre-surgical/injury strength. In this instance, is it
really enhancing performance? The answer in short is no. The research appears
to indicate that the positives far outweigh the negatives.
The most definitive result
of PED side effect research may be the effects on the heart. According to
studies, apoptotic death in cells creates deficiencies in the heart and can
ultimately lead to death. In addition, there were results found in that there
can be testicular shrinkage. However, in the majority of cases, the testicular
function and size returned to normal within a period of months. In a multitude
of studies conducted, there were no conclusive results of tumors, cancer,
psychotic episodes, or organ failure. According to Kanayama, Hudson and Pope
(2008), experts in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid abuse, "... interestingly,
there is little evidence for an increased risk of prostate cancer."
AAS are often used to
help patients in recovering from radiation therapy, burns and chronic wasting
disorders, just to name a few. AAS is a very powerful tool in recovering from
surgeries or serious injuries, and should be allowed out of competition, with a
doctor’s oversight and monitoring. As we all know, athletes make their money
competing, and when they get injured, they don’t get paid until they can
actively compete again. Using AAS to shrink the recovery timeframe so an
athlete can resume competition should be completely acceptable.
In conclusion, there is
an overwhelming amount of medical data that supports PED usage in recovering
from injuries, which is a common occurrence in sport and competition. With the
rampant use of PEDs in sport, it would be much easier to allow out of competition
use for therapeutic purposes.
References
G. Kanayama, J. Hudson & H. Pope Jr. (2008).
Long-Term Psychiatric and Medical Consequences of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid
Abuse, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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