A Review in the Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs, Should professional players be allowed to use them?

The use of performance-enhancing drugs has become increasingly prevalent over the last several years, but dates back to as early as the late 1800’s. Most commonly these drugs are used in sports such as baseball and football. Athletes take these performance-enhancers to gain a competitive advantage by becoming physically stronger or more physically fit. As a result, many major sports organizations such as Major League Baseball and the National Football League have adopted drug policies that ban certain performance-enhancers from the league so that every athlete has the same opportunities. This review on the use of performance-enhancing drugs will go over the following topics:

1. Uses in major sports

2. Sports organization’s drug policies.

3. Professional athletes using performance-enhancing drugs.

4. Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed?

The use of performance-enhancing drugs has been reported many times within the sports of baseball and football. The use of these drugs in these two specific sports is not surprising due to the high volume of strength and training required. Both require superior athletic ability and strength. For example, in baseball, players want to have the most competitive strength possible so they can pitch and throw as fast as possible. When batting, players want to be able to hit the ball out of the park every time. The use of steroids in football raises no eyebrows either, as player’s want maximum strength in blocking defenders, or as a defender, in tackling. This will always be unfair to those who don’t take performance-enhancers. Writing in the Labor Law Journal, Paul D. Staudohar states, “Since at least the early 1970s players in professional team sports have used amphetamines or "greenies" as a pre-game stimulant. This is cheating because not all players take these pills” (Staudohar, P., 2005). If everyone is not taking these stimulants at the same time, then no one should be taking them, because those who are taking them are the ones who are going to have an unfair advantage over others. The use of steroids in football goes back as far as the 1980s (Steroid use, n.d). The NFL was one of the first professional sports organizations to start testing players. As stated on Wikipedia, “The NFL began to test players for steroid use during the 1987 season, and started to issue suspensions to players during the 1989 season” (Steroid use, n.d.). Players in football used performance enhancers such as HGH (Human Growth Hormone) so that they could get bigger, stronger, and to be able to recover faster after workouts. Just like in baseball, this put those who were not taking a drug at a disadvantage. Between both baseball and football the use of performance enhancing drugs is more commonly used in baseball. Staudohar states, “Cheating is generally more common in baseball than in other sports” (Staudohar, P., 2005).

The majority of sports organizations have been able to incorporate some kind of drug-testing policy. These major sports organizations include the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Olympic Committee, all NCAA athletics, etc. All of these organizations have been able to incorporate the same drug testing policies and programs. They also have been able to propose regulations on the use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc. and put regulations on the use of performance-enhancing drugs such as HGH (Human Growth Hormone), and any other anabolic steroids. Every athlete in a major sports organization is required to sign and abide by the drug policy that the relevant organization has put in place. In The Major League Baseball Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program, it states that every athlete must restrain oneself from illegal drugs and banned performance-enhancing substances; if he were to fail a drug test and abuse the policy he will receive a suspension and/or possible fine; multiple-time abusers will receive a more harsh punishment for every failure to comply, and eventually one can be permanently suspended (Major League Baseball’s, (2005), pg. 11). The National Football League Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse states:

“The illegal use of drugs and the abuse of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and alcohol is prohibited for players in the NFL. Moreover, the use of alcohol may be prohibited for individual players in certain situations where clinically indicated in accordance with the terms of this Policy” (NFL Players Association, (2010), pg. 1).

This policy is basically the same description of the MLB drug policy, where one player must refrain one-self from illegal drugs/substances, with the addition of alcohol. Similar to the MLB policy, the NFL will also hand some form of discipline to players who choose to abuse this policy, by handing out suspensions and fines depending on the offense, and, often multiple offenses, one can receive a permanent suspension. Compared to professional organizations, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has a drug policy which prevents athletes of all collegiate sports to refrain from using illegal drugs and especially performance-enhancing drugs; substances include stimulants, anabolic agents, alcohol, tobacco, street drugs, peptide hormones and analogues (NCAA. (2001), pg. 2). Failure to comply with the NCAA policy can cause a player to lose athletic eligibility.

Every year we hear about multiple professional athletes who have abused their professional sports organizations drug policies. One of the biggest athletes to break his organizations drug policy was Alex Rodriguez of the MLB. In 2009, Rodriguez was found to be using some form of performance-enhancing drug during his time with the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003 (Sheridan, P., (2009). Rodriguez admits he did take the performance-enhancers that could cause controversy in the future because in his contract with the Yankees it states, “Rodriguez's 10-year contract with the Yankees, signed before the 2008 season, these incentives can be worth millions of dollars if he catches and passes Barry Bonds for the all-time home-run record. He has 553 home runs; Bonds' record is 762” (Sheridan, P., (2009). If he were to eventually break Barry Bonds all-time home run record, the record books will have an asterisk next to the total saying he used performance-enhancing drugs to help him. Many can agree that Rodriguez brought “shame to the game” because he chose to make his decision of taking the performance-enhancers (Ronald, B.). Rodriguez’s reason for making his decisions was that he felt that he had to live up to his contract with the Texas Rangers; at the time he was baseball’s highest paid player. He felt he had to perform to the potential of his contract. Rodriguez may have brought shame to the game, but at that time the MLB didn’t have a banned-substance policy so there would be no punishment for Rodriguez for his actions. With professional baseball players like Alex Rodriguez thinking they can use performance-enhancing drugs, then athletes of all other levels could decide to make the same decision from his reasoning. Alex Rodriguez is a role model; if someone sees him doing something, then they may do it as well.

If professional athletes like Alex Rodriguez have been admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs, then why can’t others beside professional athletes do it as well? Before Alex Rodriguez was found out and admitting to the use of steroids, he stated in interview on 60 Minutes in December 2007 that, “he had never used performance enhancing drugs” (Cote, G., 2007). Two years later he was accused of and admitted to using some form of performance-enhancing drug. If Rodriguez could lie about those accusations, and admit to lying a couple years later, then why couldn’t others have done it? Many people will assume if it is ok for him to do it, then it is ok for them to do it as well, but many don’t know how dangerous performance-enhancing drugs can be. In 1983, Commissioner Pete Rozelle stated “that anabolic steroids fell squarely within the League's prohibitions against the abuse of drugs and that steroid use had serious adverse health effects” (Paul, T.). This led to the NFL being one of the first professional sports organizations to adopt a drug policy. Many only take these supplements to receive the good result, but they don’t know what bad things can happen. In Staudohar’s journal he states, “But jacking up the body through steroids is another matter. Not only does it make users artificially superior to their contemporaries and forebears, it also poses potentially serious health risks” (Staudohar, P., 2005, pg. 2). Over time the side effects come. Staudohar’s journal also states,

“the potential risks from consumption of steroids are considerable. Adverse side effects can build up over time. They vary depending on the individual, dosage, and length of use. Steroids can cause a variety of maladies, such as heart enlargement and disease, liver tumors which may become cancerous, kidney failure, smaller testicles and infertility, muscle-tendon injuries, skin acne, hair loss, depression, and increased aggression known as Void rage. The main effects of using human growth hormone are changes in body structure and facial characteristics, such as an enlarged heart and increase in the size of the head, brow, and jaw” (Staudohar, P., 2005, pg. 2).

With these potential side effects and risk, I suggest that performance-enhancing drugs should not be allowed. They are just too dangerous. If one wants to have a competitive advantage, he should just do it the right way by working out and eating properly. There is no need to take performance enhancers. If one does decide to take performance-enhancing supplements, then he must know how dangerous they can be and be willing to experience the repercussions.

Cote, G. (2009, February 7). Is anyone clean? Report that Alex Rodriguez tested positive makes you wonder. Miami Herald, The (FL). Retrieved from EBSCOhost..

Major League Baseball’s. (2005). Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. (Attachment 18). Retrieved March 9, 2011, from news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/sports/mlbdrugpolicy05.pdf

NCAA. (2010). Drug Testing Program, 2010-2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/DT11.pdf

NFL Players Association. (2010). Policy and Program for Substance of Abuse. Retrieved March 9, 2011, from http://images.nflplayers.com/mediaResources/files/PDFs/PlayerDe elopment/2010%20Drug%20Policy.pdf\

Paul, T., Commissioner, & National Football, L. (n.d). Steroid Use In Sports. FDCH Congressional Testimony, Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Ronald, B. (n.d). Rodriguez admission brings 'shame on game'. Toronto Star (Canada). Retrieved from EBSCOhost..

Sheridan, P. (2009, February 18). Alex Rodriguez faces press, admits injecting drugs. Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA). Retrieved from EBSCOhost..

Staudohar, P. D. (2005). Performance-Enhancing Drugs In Baseball. Labor Law Journal, 56(2), 139-149. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Steroid use in American football. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steroid_use_in_American_football