by Micah Olson

Created on: September 30, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

If there is such a thing as a level playing field in sports than there is positively no place for steroids. This however is just one of many reasons that come to mind when we consider the use of steroids in sports. Firstly, steroids have a tremendously detrimental effect on the human body despite the fact that they can raise the level of play of specific athletes. Steroids can cause cancer, violent mood swings, impotency, and various other serious health problems. One only has to hearken back to the Lyle Alzado story. Alzado used steroids throughout his football career to increase his strength and level of play only to end up dieing of cancer proven to be caused by long-term use of the drug.

The next thing you have to consider is that these drugs can be addictive which only further the chances of one day paying the ultimate price for the use of the drug. You may feel stronger and may perform better but you are doing so from a drug altered state which is a mistaken mentality.

Consider the kids. Every sport has stars and these stars are looked up to by children who coincidently are the next generation of these athletes. We want kids to know that our role models are good people who respect their fortunate position in life and the fact that they are looked up to. No matter what sport you take part in from power-lifting to baseball there are kids that eagerly watch on with anticipation thinking the athletes they are watching could indeed be them one fine day. This is the innocence of sports and that should not be corrupted. Furthermore, there needs to be strict enforcement of steroids and all drugs in every sport because if all that is given is a slap on the wrist what is being said to our children.

It is painful enough to hear of athletes in trouble with the law but to then find out that some pollute their body and in essence cheat while outwardly acting willing to accept any physical problems undermines sports as a whole. So I hearken back to this: think of the children for they are innocent and sports must never compromise the integrity in which they were founded on. A part of withholding that integrity is preserving the innocence of sports no matter what game you play.

With continued unmonitored or undetected cases of athletes using steroids we will see more athletes getting sick and maybe even dieing and this is something no child or adult athlete should be subjected to or pressured to do themselves. No medal, no pay raise, and no award is worth dieing for and besides cheating is wrong. Our bodies are our temples and our children are the future of sports. We must preserve the integrity of sports. God bless.

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