Anabolic steroid use among those athletes concerned with chemically improving their performance is both physically and emotionally risky. This paper will show that the athlete often overlooks the physical and emotional risks in an effort to gain power and strength. First, the physical effects of anabolic steroid use will be discussed, followed by the emotional toll that withdrawal from steroids may take. The fact that steroid use is physically and emotionally dangerous is only one facet to be considered, however; it will also be shown that such a chemical advantage in athletic competition is unethical, and for this reason alone, steroid use must remain curtailed.
Steroids are fatlike organic compounds which enter the cell nucleus to help determine the manufacture of specific proteins. These specific proteins, enhanced by steroid use, are responsible for increased body and muscular growth. The anabolic effects of anabolic steroids relate to their ability to induce protein synthesis in muscle cells and to stimulate the release of endogenous growth hormone, which has significant anabolic effects as well. Anabolic steroids, referring to any of a group of usually synthetic hormones which increase constructive metabolism to produce gains in size and strength, do not improve an athlete's aerobic performance, or cardiovascular fitness. As Haupt explains, "The anabolic effects of anabolic steroids relate to their ability to induce protein synthesis in muscle cells, and to stimulate the release of endogenous growth hormone, which has significant anabolic effects as well" (468).
The profound physical effects of steroid use foreshadow their emotional effects to be discussed later. Steroids have strong motivational effects. According to Haupt, "athletes given placebos, being told that they are anabolic steroids, demonstrate significant strength increases. Additionally, athletes taking anabolic steroids develop very aggressive per...