“We do have a problem in baseball, and using steroids is not respecting the game.” - Ryne Sandberg

You hear about how famous athletes like Barry Bonds use and often abuse anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), but because of the publicity these drugs receive, many young athletes also get the idea that is is nothing more than a muscle building hormone. AAS is a synthetically produced variant of the male sex hormone testosterone, which are supposed to be legally prescribed by a doctor. They were meant to help treat patients with issues like delayed puberty, or diseases that may result in diminishing lean muscle mass, like cancer or AIDS.

“[Independent surveys estimate 1.5%-2% of Florida's high school athletes might be using steroids.] But against a student base of 215,000 athletes, it's kind of scary to think that possibly 4,000 are at risk out there, ... We don't want to see any youngster's life at risk.”

- John Stewart

Abusing these drugs comes from the constant need to be "bug" or be the best. Athletes are the main AAS abusers, but non-athletes are just as much culprits. Both parties are trying to enhance their performance or just attempting to have a more attractive physical appearance, but in the end are the possible and usual side affects really worth it? Although these drugs don't make you drowsy and lifeless like heroine, or make your heart race like cocaine, the side affects are just as bad as any other illegal drug out there, which is exactly why they are illegal unless prescribed for medical necessities. Steroids are being used by kids as young as 8th grade, it can start with a shopping trip to GNC and some body building protein shakes, where the thrive to look good begins. There is a huge difference between drinking a supposed performance enhancing drug, and injecting yourself with anabolic androgenic steroids. One is meant to be consumes and the other is simply NOT. Its becoming a problem in professional sports and that is rubbing off on its young fans. There needs to be severe consequences for those who are caught with these drugs. If there are in fact illegal, we need to see more than a slap on the wrist for offenders. The harsher the punishment, the less users and the less problems we will have. It is a way to cheat, and a way to harm your body and in the end the negative aspects of AAS will always out way the seemingly positive one, how great you look in the mirror.

“We have to make some radical move to get the attention of everyone. Cheaters can't win and steroids has put us in the position that it's OK to cheat.”

- Lou Brock

Thin to win

Sports like gymnastics and figure skating seem to be full of beauty and glamor to the viewing eye, but once you look backstage these sports have dangerous and devastating consequences. Severe outcomes such as repeatedly breaking bones and threatening and often fatal eating disorders are few ordeals that these young athletes must endure.
Gymnasts and figure skaters require flexibility, and as both men and women mature their flexibility often deteriorates. This is why these athletes often start at a very young age and continue to try and keep their bodies at the age and size as long as they are competing. Starting a heavy training schedule so early in development can add much more stress on ones joints, which can and will cause future problems. Common injuries for skaters consist of the knees and hips, while gymnasts struggle with fractures and sprains in their wrists, lumbar and ankles. Not only do these athletes have to struggle with these injuries repetitively but because of the need to be tiny, their growth rates are often slowed down which can create intense damage on their spinal cord. For young women, the slowing down of body development can also slow down and delay maturation, resulting in late menstrual cycles, which can be very harmful to their bodies and reproductive systems in the future. The need to be small "pixies" has become an overwhelming necessity in order to compete successfully. The lighter and shorter you are will affect your number of rotations or height in the air, or the final outcome and score of your event.
With this need to be small and young, repercussions arise, such as eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are two common eating disorders that occur not just in these sports, but all over the world. Anorexia is the refusal to eat anything other then possible small portion vegetables or fruits and bulimia consists of defensive vomiting after eating large portions. Both disorders in the end will weaken the body and immune system and in the end the negative aftermath with out way the reasoning, to be thin. In a NCAA survey of collegiate athletes conducted in 1992 "93% of the programs reporting eating disorders were in women sports." This need to be thin, and this judging system that lowers self esteem and confidence will in the end ruin the lives of young inspiring, and passionate athletes. Behind all the sparkling outfits and fake smiles is a person who is fighting to be the best and make others proud while she/he is slowly killing themselves.