Myles Gibson

Drugs and Sports English 1102 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Myles Gibson

Myles Gibson

Introduction
When deciding what would be a great topic to expand on, there were many topics to choose from that dealt with sports and athletics. These topics ranging from the history of individual sports, to the best athletes that have ever walked this Earth; but what Ive found most interesting about my subject are the actual athletes who are involved in professional sports. It became very interesting to me how these people who are just like you and I, are so much more athletic and are capable. This idea sparked many questions in my head. Questions like are these athletes just that good? or is it a God given talent or are these elite athletes using some kind of enhancing drugs to maximize their performance?. All of these ideas and thoughts could be true but, there has been great controversy over the years with top athletes being involved in with steroids and enhancers. Sports Enhancing Drugs have been used for decades with its first known origin (being in the Olympics of 1954.) From here, it began what can otherwise be referred to as an epidemic; but what can you say with athletes becoming stronger, faster, and bigger than ever before? Also we cannot even begin to forget the big role of technology and how has played in the sports medicine. Athletes nowadays are able to recover and build their bodies faster than ever before. So my focus in this paper is not to talk about the evolution of sports but, more over the evolution of athletes in the use of illegal drugs that violate every professional sports policies. Not only do I want to focus my paper on illegal drugs that violate professional sports policies such as steroids but, I also want to take a glimpse at how athletes may ruin their bodies and also their career with street drugs. There have been countless scandals dealing with top athletes and street drugs, which ruin a lifetime of hard work and dedication. I think that these two types of drugs are steadily becoming more common in this time and area. In this paper I want to research and dissect the purpose for the use of these drugs and, what these drugs consist of that makes them harmful to the human body. All in all, I feel that this is a very popular topic that young athletes should pay more attention to, so join me as we research the world of sports and drugs.
Comment [H2]: Great explanation of what the key topics you will be elaborating on in you r narrative. Comment [H3]: Talk about Lance Armstrong blood transfusion Comment [H4]: Add definition of doping and what drugs are most significant to the world of sports. Comment [H1]: I love the fact that you are asking questions. That is key.

Literacy Review: The Rise of Doping in Sports

Doping began very early in the history of sports. After a cyclist dying after apparent amphetamine use, the first drug testing began in the late 50s (Wilson & Derse 2001). But who came up with the process for testing for drugs? There were a couple of guys by the name of Beckett, Tucker, and

Myles Gibson Moffat who came up with a procedure in the late 1960s, this procedure was capable of detecting a number of different stimulants (Wilson & Derse 2001). This was a great start for the detection of basic stimulants in the early years of the Olympics, but as time progressed the possibilities for the detection of drugs only grew. By the late 1970s, the first formal drug test for illegal drugs was established by Beckett after joining the International Olympic Committee (Wilson & Derse 2001). But when was the first time athletes were actually tested for the use of anabolic steroids? It wasnt until almost 1980 before athletes were tested for the use of steroids. This type of drug test was acquired through the development of complex radioimmunoassay screening procedures along with gas chromatography- mass spectrometry techniques (Wilson & Derse 2001). This allowed the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to become aware of who was using steroids and who wasnt. Now that we know who came up with early the procedures and, how these procedures became really effective, lets talk about how they tested the athletes. Were the y tested through urine samples or blood samples? Urine testing are the main procedure for testing for drugs. Urine contains metabolites that proved if an athlete was using drugs or not (Wilson & Derse 2001); not that drugs cou ldnt be detected through blood samples but, a blood sample was considered unnecessary trauma to the athlete (Wilson & Derse 2001). A urine test didnt require any needles or invasive procedure, eliminating the possibilities for any legal or religious considerations.
Comment [H7]: Describe when the athlete is tested whether this is day of event. Do they perform drug test before and after? Comment [H6]: What do these drug screening procedures mean and how are they accomplished. Comment [H5]: In literacy review good use of rhetorical comments and descriptive elements to how changes have been made to end the use of drugs in sports.

Sports Enhancing Drug Effects on the Body

When we think of steroids we always think of the dangerous drugs that most athletes and body builders use to gain muscle or speed. But who says that steroids are dangerous? So the question now stands, how do steroids become dangerous? The most typical way that steroids become dangerous is by a term called steroid abuse. Anabolic steroids allow the body to recover in an unmannerly time. So athletes and bodybuilders are given the chance to push their bodies to the limited and be able to recover within no time; this is what we call steroid abuse! This is what causes harm to our bodies. Do you know what the effects could be? Effects of Steroid Abuse (Drug Enforcement Administration) Physical side effects include High blood cholesterol levels Severe Acne Thinning of Hair/ Baldness
Comment [H8]: The questions are great .Really gives the reader something to look forward

Myles Gibson Fluid Retention tHigh Blood Pressure Liver Disorders Risk of Contracting HIV from infected needles

Sexual & Reproductive Disorders include Males Females Atrophy( wasting away of tissue or organs)of the testicles Loss of Sex Drive Diminished or Decreased Sperm Production Breast and Prostate Enlargement Decreased Hormone Levels

Menstrual Irregularities
Infertility Musicalizing Effects Such as Facial Hair, Diminished Breast Size, Permanently Deepened Voice, and Enlargement of Clitoris

Psychological Disturbances include the following

Mood Swings Impaired Judgment (Sense of Invincibility) Depression Nervousness Extreme irritability Delusions Hostility and Aggression

Comment [H9]: Put all effects of steroids between men and women in paragraph form rather than using bullet points.

Penalties of Street Drugs or Steroids

So I know many wonder what type of consequences do athletes face because of the use of steroids or street drugs. And thats a good question, what type of consequences do they face? There have been a number of professional athletes involved in drug scandals ranging from Barry Bonds to Michael Phelps. Lets take a look at a number of different athletes cases. In Michael Phelps case, in 2009 a photographed emerged with him taking a hit of marijuana from a bong (Laniado 2012). So what happens to Phelps? He is stripped of his Olympic Gold Medal and suspended for three months. He also

Myles Gibson lost his endorsement with Kelloggs (Laniado 2012). Another great athlete to not only loose endorsements or metals but his life is Lin Bias. Bias was one of the greatest basketball players ever, that never made it the NBA due to drugs. He died from a cocaine overdose just two days after he was drafted in the 1986 NBA draft by the Celtics (Laniado 2012). What about Andre Agassi, one of the best tennis players ever and his addiction to crystal meth. After failing a drug test in 1997, he admits in his autobiography in 2009 of using crystal meth during his career in tennis (Laniado 2012). So do you think its worth it? I would say no! These professional athletes wake up every day to do what they love, and they make one slip up and can end their careers that easy. Not to mention they get paid millions of dollars on top of that. All they have to do is train and abide by sports policies. Would you consider using steroids or other drugs if you got paid millions of dollars to do what you love? Even though it is quite understandable to want to win but, why take chances?

Entering the Conversation

Comment [H10]: Sub Topics 1. Alternative methods ex. Vitamins 2. Different Workouts to Achieve Results 3. Better Ways to Improve Testing

Conclusion
In conclusion, the rise of doping has a long legacy; starting in the early 1950s with athletes being caught in the use of antihistamines to the late 70s, early 80s, with the first procedures of detecting anabolic steroids. In todays society, steroids and other drug enhancers are growing trends that needs to be managed. These drugs are considered cheating and unfair amongst other athletes. Not only are these drugs considered a way of cheating but, they are very dangerous. They have a number of side effects that can lead to death or other serious injuries. As we can tell from a number of different professional athletes, drugs are not the route to take, some of these elite athletes being stripped of medals to some of them not being able to make an appearance at the next level. All in all, the overall question in mind is it worth it? Is it worth loosing accolades, a career or chance of a career, money, or even your life to use the drugs called steroids?

Myles Gibson

Bibliography
Cooper, C. E. (2012). Run, swim, throw, cheat: The science behind drugs in sport . Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Summary: This book focuses on how many of athletes use drugs to push their bodies to the next level. It continues to talk about, if the drugs work, how they work and the possibilities for testing for them. The author then unveils how people can cheat, and how they might be able to cheat in the near future,

United States. Drug Enforcement Administration. Office of Division Control. (2004). Steroid abuse in today's society: a guide for understanding steroids and related substances . Washington, DC: Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control.

Summary: The guide provides a substantial background on steroids. Its use is to try to help provide a better apprehension of the dangers of these drugs and, how to better educate young athletes of these dangers. It continues to talk about the medical effects of steroids aiming to reduce the use of steroids amongst athletes.

Thevis, M. (2010). Mass spectrometry in sports drug testing: Characterization of prohibited substances and doping control analytical assays. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

Summary: This book explains the wide number of therapeutics and factors related to drug control labs. Also it explains the ways of detecting and recognizing the difference between different types of compounds. Overall detecting and defying differences in dugs.

Wilson, W., & Derse, E. (2001). Doping in elite sport: The politics of drugs in the Olympic movement . Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Summary: This book looks into the broad spectrum of the use of Illegal drugs such as steroids in professional sports. It continues to talk about numerous of topics from drug polices to the history of steroids. The book also looks at the attempts of controlling the use of steroids and other illegal sports drugs

Fainaru-Wada, M., & Williams, L. (2006). Game of shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the steroids scandal that rocked professional sports. New York: Gotham Books.

Summary: This book talks about many scandals that have dealt with steroids and famous professional athletes. From Barry Bonds to Jason Gianbi, both two MVP baseball players, in use of these drugs. The book unveils and exposes a lot of unseen truths about these professional sports.

Yesalis, C. (2000). Anabolic steroids in sport and exercise. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Myles Gibson

Summary: This book contains research findings about the use and abuse of steroids in sports. It gives sufficient information and research on the basic background of steroids. This book also explores the use of steroids not only in competitive sports but, also in body building.

Mottram, D. R. (2011). Drugs in sport. London: Routledge

Summary: The text of the book focuses on updates of doping laws and changes to the prohibited list of illegal drugs. This book also presents research on the background of stimulants, to hormones and medications. This book gives great details of exactly what its title is.

Michael Phelps and 9 Other Famous Pro Athletes Who've Used Illicit Drugs | Bleacher Report . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1159704-michael-phelps-and-9-other-famouspro-athletes-whove-used-illicit-drugs

Summary: This article explains how nine different professional athletes get their careers taken away from them in the blink of an eye because of the use of illegal drugs. It gives details about the specific drug and consequences that each one of these professional athletes face.

Prohibited List - Athlete Guide | U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usada.org/prohibited-list/athlete-guide/

This webpage contains many important documents such as the athlete 2013 prohibited list that lists illegal drugs and substances. It also talks about anabolic agents, peptide hormones, antagonist and much more. This website also breakdowns specific substances prohibited in each individual sport as well. This web page acts as a preventive to athletes using illegal substances The book goes from focusing on Baron Pierre de Coubertin contributions of establishing Olympic Games, to the abundant use of steroids and other illegal performance substances. It talks about many scandals that have happen within the Olympics and the banned substance. The book gives good insight on illegal performance enhancing substances and drugs.

Beamish, R. (2011). Steroids: A new look at performance-enhancing drugs. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger.

Myles Gibson