Steroids in Sports

Steroids have been used in bodybuilding since the early 50's and since then have been the common denominator between all the massive guys you see in the magazines and on stage. Big name bodybuilders like Arnold Swartzenegger have even admitted to using them, not that it wasn't obvious already. It isn't uncommon for a pro bodybuilder to use steroids year round and even at doses of over 1000mgs of testosterone weekly. Most of them, even at this dosage, experience very few side effects.

Bodybuilding is not the only professional sport where steroids are being used consistently. Swimmers, Rugby players, Basketball players, and especially pro Football players are often using steroids. Football great Lyle Alzado, who publicly blamed his cancer on steroids and growth hormone, claimed that 90%+ were using while he was in the game. While this number may seem a little extreme, it is certainly within the realm of reality.

In the past, steroid use was seen mostly in college, Olympic, and professional sports. Today, steroids are being used by athletes as well as nonathletes, in high schools and middle schools. Most major professional and amateur athletic organizations have banned steroids for use by their athletes. These organizations include the International Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Football League (NFL).

Steroids in Medicine

There are three types of steroids used in the medical field:

1) Corticosteroids- Any of the natural or synthetic hormones associated with the adrenal cortex, which influences or controls key processes of the body, as carbohydrate and protein metabolism, electrolyte and water balance, and the functions of the cardiovascular system, the skeletal muscle, the kidneys, and other organs.

--These steroids are found in prescription and non-prescription creams and ointments that control rashes and itching. Two common trade names are Cortaid(R) and Lanacort(R).



2) Estrogens and Progestogens- These are the female sex hormones. They are responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in women and maintain the female reproductive system.

--Estrogens and progestogens are the active ingredients in prescription birth control tablets.



3) Androgens- Testosterone is the androgen that leads to the development of male secondary sexual characteristics and maintains the male reproductive system.

--Testosterone is commonly prescribed in the treatment of female breast cancer, androgen deficiency, and for stimulation of growth, weight gain, and red blood cell production. These are commonly known as "anabolic steroids" because they promote muscle growth. They are also commonly used to help patients recover from a surgery and cancer treatment that resulted in damage to muscle tissue.