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Professional sports and steroids are a volatile combination. The interaction between the two has the ability to desecrate the integrity of athleticism as well as promote the unsafe practice of steroid use to a whole new generation. But the issue really needs to incorporate steroid use in all sports, not just a select few. By selecting just a few sports to focus upon to clean up their particular professional image, regulators miss the damage that could be caused by sports that seem to be reaching multitudes in the name of entertainment yet do not act upon the negative consequences that could result from not addressing what steroids can do to the body.

It has become public knowledge that steroid use can be very damaging to the body. Major League Baseball has attacked the subject with vigor, with more professional names being brought upon almost daily into the ongoing inquest. While this article is not intended to focus on whether or not certain players knowingly used steroids, it would appear that Major League Baseball is at least serious about cleaning up the sport's image as well as letting upcoming children to realize that drug use, even the use of steroids, is not beneficial, and actually quite harmful in the long run. The Tour de France seems intent on focusing on illegal drug use to maintain its image as well. Many sports are introducing substance abuse policies. But not all sports are stepping out on this issue.

One sport in particular that seems to not address the issue is televised professional wrestling. While this sport seems to be attracting more people and has a solid hold in the world of entertainment, the sport's drive for income and choreographed wrestling attracts children through its exposure on television. I see more youth wearing a variety of wrestling stars' pictures on t-shirts as they go to school or are out and about in public than I have seen in previous years. This seems to indicate that the mass marketing of entertainment-related wrestling is attracting more families and impressionable children. For instance, many want to be like John Cena. Former wrestlers speak of the rampant use of steroids in their sport. Yet the sport itself doesn't address the issue of steroids although it is attracting more people.

Failure to address the issue of drug use could create an idea that it is okay to use steroids and be a pro wrestler. It could draw teenagers and college students involved with wrestling to use steroids to be competitive. This is ultimately destructive and should be discouraged. When was the last time anyone who watches "pro" wrestling remember an interview with a retired wrestler where they talk about the effects steroid use had on their lives after they retired from the sport? But this shouldn't impact wrestling alone. If we really wish to clean up sports as a civilized society, we need to be proactive against steroids in all sports, not just a select few.

Learn more about this author, William Bosch.
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