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I didn't choose to write in this column because I advocate opening the floodgates to whatever substances people want to use. Rather, I chose to write here because steroid use is a fairly broad category and there are a number of other medical enhancements that are currently being used in sports. People can debate as to the amount that they "enhance" the performance of the athlete, but it would be incorrect to say that athletes are going out onto the field completely drug-free. Of course, there is also the issue of equality which can also be debated. Here are a few thoughts on the issue of steroids in sports.

WHAT ABOUT DOCTORS?

I do not play professional sports for a living. I am a teacher. Despite my non-active profession, I do stay in shape but I suffer from back pain. I recently went to my doctor and he prescribed a short round of steroids coupled with muscle relaxers and painkillers. Therefore, if Congress calls, I will say, "why yes, I did take steroids". What happens when the pro athlete has the same condition? Do we tell them that they cannot use steroids? Granted, athletes are using them when they do not have any medical issues, but what about the injured athlete that gets a prescription?

OTHER TREATMENTS?

We routinely hear about athletes that get shots like cortisone in order to deal with pain and injury. Is that not considered an advantage? Again, I understand that those are "approved" drugs, but are we not blurring the lines between acceptable and non-acceptable forms of medical treatment? The same goes for pain-killers and antibiotics, which are also "acceptable" forms of medicine for today's athlete.

My intent is not to say that everything is the same, because it isn't. My point is that there are cases where steroids might be acceptable under a doctors care. It isn't fair to just say, "no steroids in sports, ever". Professional sports, particularly Major League Baseball has a problem because they never policed themselves and now they are dealing with the baggage of getting caught. In addition, there are the years of allegations that players used not only steroids, but also other drugs like amphetamines. The bottom line is that there are many ways to give a player an "advantage" and they aren't all chemical. If a league truly wants to give teams a level playing field, they have to determine what that field is and then actually enforce it. Certain sports have suffered because they were afraid to define the rules, and they were certainly delinquent with enforcement.

Learn more about this author, Todd Pheifer.
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