I think performance enhancing drugs have a place in sports but not in high school.
Performance enhancing drugs, which range from steroids to supplements, should have their own league where we get to see the true human limits we can push a sport.
In high school, however, using PED’s give an unfair advantage over other teams who do not allow their players to take them.
Human growth hormone, for instance, is often taken by people who abuse steroids in sports. This steroid allows athletes to become much bigger and stronger than they previously have been. This creates an unfair advantage for athletes who must compete against these juiced up competitors.
If there were a league where using performance enhancing drugs was legal, it would be a lot of fun to watch. One of the greatest hitters of all time, Barry Bonds, was known for being on steroids and that is what allowed him to be able to hit the ball as far as he did. Bonds was never inducted into the hall of fame because of this. A separate league might have changed this.
The advantages of PED’s are obvious–getting an unfair physical step up over the competition. If one team is not allowed to take PED’s, then the opposing team should not be allowed either.
There are several enhancers that are not straight up steroids like creatine. Naturally produced in the body, its purpose is to store water in the muscle for faster recoveries. Creatine is taken by many people in the fitness industry, but is not as bad as a performance enhancer or steroids. Creatine is allowed in sports on all levels from high school all the way up to the major leagues.
Creatinine, however, can be detrimental to health. It can cause weight gain which leads to other health problems. People who take it have an increased likelihood of liver failure because of the water retention. Creatine is not the only supplement that has negative side effects.
Eight time Mr. Olympia winner, Ronnie Coleman has admitted to taking steroids. Coleman has had health problems since he began weight lifting because he was able to lift such heavy weights, he ended up injuring his spine. Coleman was one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, or was he? He did have an unfair advantage, so does he deserve the title?
The premise of PED’s is to see how far the body can go. I believe there’s a place for steroids in modern day sports, in a league of its own, to keep things fair. If given the opportunity to take them, I would because I am also curious of the limitations of my body.
