"Andro! Hey, it's not
illegal." So said Mark Maguire, Sammy Sosa and a host of
other major league baseball players, some retired, who were
openly using the drug Androstenedione into the 21st century.
There was a Canadian sprinter not many years ago who was
stripped of his gold medal in the Olympics for having used
performance enhancing drugs. Over the past 30 years or so
there have been many Olympic medal winners stripped of their
medals for drug use and abuse.
It's not illegal. I feel better when I use it. I don't get so
tired in a double-header. I feel better after a good night's
sleep. But the bottom line is "It's not illegal!" Or
it wasn't. It is now, in 2005. Should it be? Should the other
performance enhancing drugs be illegal? We really don't have
all the genetic evidence in yet. Do performance enhancers, and
especially anabolic steroids, have long term deleterious
genetic effects? We may not know for another 10-20-30 or more
years? We may never know for sure? But the evidence of playing
with chemicals is in, and there may be evidence to at least
suggest (see artificial
sweeteners) the possibility of genetic changes from
prolonged use.
So just what are the major Performance Enhancers and what they
do, good and bad. Here's a few (following statistics from the
May Clinic):
Creatine. Typical drug of choice for many high school
athletes. Over-the-counter supplement best known for improving
performance in sports involving short bursts of high-intensity
activity such as power lifting, wrestling and sprinting. Side
effects include stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and muscle
cramps. High doses may be associated with kidney, liver or
heart problems. Serious dehydration may occur from the
redirection of the body's water to the muscles. Possible
leading cause of the death of a young and promising
professional baseball player in 2004.
Androstenedione (andro). Proponents claim it boosts
testosterone production, which in turn increases muscle mass,
energy and strength. In reality, andro doesn't do any of that.
The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 classified andro as a
controlled substance, adding it to the list of banned anabolic
steroids and making its use illegal. In males it can actually
decrease the production of testosterone while increasing the
production of estrogen. Side effects include acne, diminished
sperm production, shrinking of the testicles and enlargement
of the breasts. In females side effects include acne and
masculinization, such as deepening of the voice and
male-pattern baldness. Andro might also stunt a child's
growth.
Ephedra. Ephedra is a plant that contains the chemical
ephedrine, a stimulant similar to amphetamines. Athletes may
take an over-the-counter supplement containing ephedra to
reduce physical fatigue, lose weight or improve mental
alertness. In December 2003 the FDA announced the ban of
ephedra because of health concerns. Also known as ma-huang,
popotillo and ephedrae herba, ephedra can cause such side
effects as strokes, seizures and heart attacks. Ephedra can
raise blood sugar and cause an irregular heart rhythm.
Long-term use can lead to addiction. Check the labels of
sports energy drinks or energy bars. They may include ephedra.
Anabolic Steroids. Anabolic steroids are taken orally
or by injection. In the U.S., this group of
performance-enhancing drugs is generally available only by
prescription. Anabolic steroids are particularly dangerous for
adolescents because their bones are still developing. The
drugs can damage the heart, kidney and liver.. Signs in males
include increased acne and male-pattern baldness. If a girl
takes anabolic steroids she may develop male characteristics
such as deep voice or dark facial hair. The more dangerous
physical conditions, such as liver tumors, increased blood
pressure and elevated cholesterol, won't be visible. Also,
effects on a teen's future fertility are unknown. Teens who
take anabolic steroids may have angry outbursts known as
"'roid rage". They may seem unusually moody and
experience depression when they stop using the drugs. Other
signs of steroid use are paranoia, hallucination and
psychosis.
These are just the known benefits and side effects of these
performance enhancing drugs. There likely are many other, very
bad, side effects still to be discovered. If you are seriously
considering using one or another (or more) of these drugs you
should do so only under a doctor's guidance. And my personal
advice in this regard is: get at least two doctors to agree to
your need. Need, not simple desire.
Disclaimer:
This article in no way should be taken as “medical
advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor
does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing
any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure
for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a
source of information upon which you may base your decision as
to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral
and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a
“greens” product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
Reference includes Author's personal experience and
memory, previously published stories and USA Today Sports Weekly
(drug statistics provided by the Mayo Clinic) for June 8-14, 2005. Check
this edition for additional and very frightening information
on High School steroid use.
