Good athletes are at disadvantage while keeping anti-doping rules

Anabolic-androgenic steroids are widely taken around the world. While certain individuals administer these drugs in order to treat several illnesses, others use them in order to induce increasing muscle mass, add energy, burn fat, etc. Of course, nobody will be ever able to contest positive effects that can be achieved with the help of these preparations. But it is needed to remember that anabolic steroids cause side results along with benefits. That’s why those who plan to apply these medicines should study probable dangers before they start applying these products.
Knowing about potential risks, you can find certain methods in order to avoid or minimize them. Those that have ever applied steroids know that some of them convert into estrogen in the body, causing such side results, as fluid retention, gynecomastia, fat accumulation, etc. Anti-estrogen preparations have ability to prevent or at least to minimize severity of these health problems. Anabolic-androgenic steroids also suppress natural secretion of testosterone. Luckily, there are several remedies that are capable to restore this process.
Besides of drugs, there are also other ways to avoid or minimize adverse reactions. Doses should be reduced; cycles must not be long; proper stacks should be chosen, etc.
While some negative effects of anabolic steroids are evident, others can be detected only with the help of lab tests. So, anabolic steroids may increase hematrocrit levels. This adverse reaction is quite dangerous. High hematocrit levels lead to other serious side results. Individuals with this problem may face diseases of cardiovascular system and disorders connected with blood circulation. Even heart attack and death may result from elevated hematocrit levels. That’s why it is necessary to check hematocrit levels while taking anabolic-androgenic steroids.
If a steroid user learns that he/she has elevated hematocrit levels, this person should consult his/her treating doctor. Administration of steroids must be stopped. Health care providers appoint products for reduction of hematocrit levels. Thus, hematocrit levels should return to their normal levels. Otherwise, further complications will occur.
Hematocrit levels should be maintained within normal range. There are some simple rules which should be kept by athletes for this purpose. Those that train intensively should consume much water. Furthermore, it is recommended consuming grapefruit. It is stated that this fruit contains a substance which can reduce high hematocrit levels.
In case you want to avoid having high hematocrit levels, don’t use steroids!

Why should be hematocrit levels maintained at normal range?

The boxer Tony Thompson states that anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs should be permitted in boxing. The sportsman claims that anti-doping laws and gun laws are similar. Who keeps gun laws? Only good guys do it. That’s why good guys are at a disadvantage. Thus, the similar situation is linked with anti-doping laws. Just honest athletes don’t apply steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs. So, they fight with those that have enhanced their performance with the help of anabolic steroids and other related drugs.
It is argued that anabolic steroids are not allowed in sports because they are dangerous. What would you believe about boxing in itself? Isn’t boxing dangerous? The answer is obvious.
But it is also stated that it is needed to ban anabolic steroids and other related medications in order to make boxing safer. Anabolic steroids and other doping products increase performance. The more enhanced performance is, the more dangerous rounds are. Although it is true, would you ban anything which promotes performance of boxers? Thus, you ban steroids because they enhance performance. Then ban trainings as well since they enhance performance too! So, you will decrease performance while minimizing possible risks. What do you think about this aspect?
The boxer Tony Thompson also adds that detection tests are not efficient at all. While a lot of sportspersons use banned medications, only some of them are caught and sentenced to suspensions. So, dopers have unfair advantage over those that don’t break anti-doping rules. Where is fairness? Where is logic?
Of course, arguments provided by Tony Thompson are reasonable. Anti-doping rules make fights more unfair. Furthermore, the ban of doping doesn’t make rounds safer. Many boxers continue to use steroids and/or other banned substances without being caught. They continue to fight and succeed with the help of doping, while good guys are at a disadvantage because they don’t break anti-doping rules.
Thus, if doping is permitted in boxing, fights will be more honest. Of course, they will remain unsafe. But they will be at least fair.
The boxer Tony Thompson has been harshly criticized for his arguments pro legalization of doping in boxing.

Athletes use other remedies along with steroids

Steroids are permanently administered by athletes, bodybuilders and by ordinary individuals. Since these products are banned in sports, doping scandals are reported daily. Other remedies are used along with steroids. Numerous athletes are inclined to use heroin. You would probably wonder why heroin is applied in sports. It is suggested that heroin is applied by sportspeople for relief of pain.
Studying history of doping in sports, you can see that sportspeople are ready to take numerous strange things, if these remedies have capacity to increase muscle size, ban fat, add strength, speed recovery from injuries and relieve pains. Gorgets and pickle juice represent just some remedies that are utilized along with anabolic steroids.
Doping is not a new factor in sports. Sportspeople dope from ancient times. They try to introduce new remedies that can help them to achieve some goals through enhancement of performance. It is frequently stated that sports are good for health. Sportspersons and bodybuilders are usually viewed as healthy individuals. But it is a wrong point of view. Sports are associated with some risks for health. Sportspersons push their bodies till limits. They administer some dangerous remedies that promote their succeeding, obtaining awards and earning money. Although several sportspersons achieve splendid results related to prizes, they ruin their health significantly. Certain sportspersons and bodybuilders even take such medications that threaten to life. They do it in the name of athletic performance and success in sports.
Although new remedies for increase of performance are introduced, you probably notice that the most of scandals are linked with anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormones. While several medicines appear and disappear quickly, steroids are unlikely to disappear. However anti-doping officers try to eradicate administration of steroids from sports, their efforts turn out to be unsuccessful. While anti-doping officers introduce more efficacious tests for detection of steroids and other related products, athletes and bodybuilders find more sophisticated ways to dope and avoid detection. So, a lot of sportspersons dope while not being caught by anti-doping agencies. No one can contest that anabolic steroids and some other performance-enhancing drugs are widely applied in the world of sports and bodybuilding. Administration of steroids is unlikely to be eliminated from sports.

Connection between steroid use and tragic events

Oscar Pistorius admitted that he had killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. But the athlete stated that he had killed her because he had mistaken her for a thief.
Police officers try to determine why the Olympic athlete really murdered Reeva Steenkamp. They found steroids at the athlete’s home.
Since steroids have been found in Oscar’s bedroom, it would be probably stated that steroids caused uncontrolled behavior in the athlete. Steroids would be demonized for the murder.
In fact, you should understand that it is quite hardly to claim that anabolic steroids are responsible for aggression and violence. Researches linked with this issue are quite limited. According to results of several researches, steroid users are predisposed to aggression, paranoia, jealousy, etc. It is stated that those who use steroids are more likely to commit crimes than those who have nothing to do with these medicines. But it is necessary to consider that steroids may only contribute to aggression. Just these medicines alone can’t lead to aggression. They turn out to be just contributive factors. Other factors should be also present for appearing of aggression. Circumstances play essential role in such situations. So, it is even impossible to define whether anabolic steroids cause aggression or several circumstances. Cases should be reviewed as a complex of steroid use and circumstances.
It is also claimed by experts that increased levels of testosterone are associated with aggression in some persons. So, it is necessary to specify here that while some persons with increased testosterone levels suffer from aggression, others with elevated testosterone levels are not predisposed to uncontrolled violent behavior. This condition differs from one person to another.
You can see that the link between usage of steroids and crimes is a complicated issue. Scientists have not studied this condition well enough to implicate it. So, if defense lawyers of the Olympic athlete desire to argue that steroids have made their client to murder his girlfriend, they should recognize that they are going to use controversial statements.

Drug manufacturers and anti-doping officers unite their efforts

Nowadays a lot of pharmaceutical companies are ready to cooperate with anti-doping officers in their fight against administration of forbidden medications in sports. It sounds strange but this is the reality. In fact, if you review the fate of EPO, you can comprehend why drug manufacturers agree to support efforts of anti-doping officers. EPO is really an effectual remedy for treatment of anemia. A lot of individuals with anemia that have applied EPO have been treated. But what do you think while hearing about this medicine? Almost each individual associates this remedy only with doping in sports. This medication has been abused by Lance Armstrong that has cheated the whole world. Thus, EPO is associated only with cheating, disgrace, etc. Looking at this situation, pharmaceutical companies try to “defend” their medications from the similar fate. That’s why they work together with anti-doping officers.
However some pharmaceutical companies began to collaborate with anti-doping officers earlier, sometimes there were certain problems between them. Anti-doping officers criticized certain drug manufacturers for their links to doping.
Nowadays relations between anti-doping officials and pharmaceutical companies are closer. Pharmaceutical companies share detailed information about new medications with anti-doping agencies. It is valuable information for development of detection tests for these preparations. While anti-doping agencies learn how drugs are manufactured, how they pass into body, how they work in the body, they can elaborate more effectual tests for these drugs.
For example, the pharmaceutical company Roche that elaborated the medication CERA helped anti-doping officers to introduce a detection test for it. Later other pharmaceutical companies followed the example of Roche. The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline went so far, as it sponsored an anti-doping lab during London Olympics.
While relations between anti-doping agencies and big pharmaceutical companies become closer, smaller drug manufacturers begin to cooperate with anti-doping officers as well. While earlier drug manufacturers haven’t wanted to discuss about their links to anti-doping officers openly, nowadays they don’t fear to announce about this aspect.

Users of steroids and other related drugs should be suspended

It is not needed to subject sportspersons to tests for doping substances. Numerous cases display that tests for banned drugs are not efficacious. Moreover, it is important to comprehend that application of tests by anti-doping officials is not logical at Olympics. The chief purpose of Olympic sportspersons is following: to become faster, stronger and to be at the highest level. So, why should you keep athletes far from drugs which could help them to achieve this result?
As you know, anabolic steroids and other related preparations increase performance. Thus, sportspersons should be allowed to take these remedies in order to boost physical performance.
A lot of individuals say that steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs make competitions unfair. Is this opinion true? No, it wrong. You should realize that tests for steroids and other related products make competitions unfair. Many athletes use doping products while avoiding detection. So, certain sportspersons use anabolic steroids; others don’t break anti-doping laws. As a result, dopers have unfair advantage over non-dopers. It’s unfair. Let all athletes have similar access to performance-enhancing drugs. So, competitions will be fairer.
But discussing unfairness in sports, you should remember about other conditions which have more significant influence of fairness/unfairness than steroids and other related products. Several athletes live in developed countries; others are in less developed countries. Several athletes have money to get needed equipment; others can’t afford it. Certain countries can sponsor sportspeople, trainers, sport doctors and managers; others are not able to do it. So, unfairness should be noticed here.
Olympic sportspersons spend much time while training. They sacrifice time, money, etc. That’s why it is illogical to ban those that are caught applying steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.
While athletes are sentenced to suspensions for usage of anabolic steroids and several other chemical substances, they are never banned for application of herbs and certain potions. It is claimed that anabolic steroids and other chemical substances are banned in sports because they can enhance physical performance. But what is for herbs and potions? They are also able to enhance strength. Nonetheless, these remedies are not prohibited in sports.  Chinese sportspersons take herbal remedies and win.
Of course, you may claim that steroids and certain other drugs may lead to serious side effects. Undoubtedly, certain banned medicines may cause serious health troubles. But those that intend to apply these medicines do own research. They know about probable dangers. Let athletes decide whether it is worthy to take such drugs. If they are ready to worsen health, let them do it because they are masters upon own bodies.

China promotes illegal manufacture of steroids

David Howman, the CEO of the WADA, says that China is the chief source of raw materials used by underground labs for manufacture of anabolic steroids, HGH and other related products. Raw powders are shipped from this country. Then underground labs produce illicit products that are offered for sale by dealers at gyms and on the streets.
The black market of steroids controls sales of illegal drugs on the white market. The black market is the source of products which are available on the white market. It is stated that almost all medicines which are sold have been primarily obtained from underground labs that have used raw materials from China.
Elite sportspersons are frequently criticized for usage of steroids and other related products. Since doping scandals appear day by day, a lot of individuals believe that steroids and other doping products are mainly administered by elite sportspersons. But it is important to notice that this a wrong conception. Some specialists have determined that steroids and other related medications are more frequently taken by high school students and aged persons who try to improve their appearance. While students want to increase muscles with the help of steroids and some other illegal products, aged persons try to add strength and lower fat deposits with the help of these drugs.
Unfortunately, legal supplements often contain steroidal ingredients. Companies add such substances intentionally. As a result, those who use only nutritional and/or sport supplements turn out to be consumers of steroids. According to David Howman, the CEO of the WADA, it is necessary to control supplement industry in order to prevent appearing of supplements which contain steroidal compounds.

Total elimination of doping from sports will never take place

What do you think about legalization of doping in sports?  Some persons think that it is time to legalize it. Others don’t agree. What is your opinion?
Those who are against legalization of doping in sports believe that anabolic steroids and other related products represent great evil. They may cause serious negative effects in users. Moreover, a doper has unfair advantage over a non-doper during competitions.
According to another opinion, application of steroids and other doping products should be permitted in sports. Let athletes take whatever they desire! If they desire to take anabolic steroids, let them do it! If they plan to use other medicines, let them do it! If they want to use some products, let physicians manage their usage! Physicians know what their patients should do in order to avoid some undesirable reactions. So, doping products will not lead to serious negative effects. As a result, administration of anabolic steroids and other related medications will be relatively safe for health and life of consumers.
As you know, steroids and other doping products are currently forbidden in sports. When sportspersons are suspected and/or found guilty of doping, scandals appear. Such situations are frequently discussed during TV shows, in magazines, newspapers, on internet, etc. You must know that every scandal commonly contains not only truth but also gossips, exaggerations, etc. As a result, you can’t be sure whether certain affirmations are true or not.
Those who are against legalization of doping in sports claim that athletes enhance performance unnaturally with the help of anabolic steroids and other related medications. Speaking about enhancement of athletic performance, you should remember about enhancement of sexual performance, cognitive abilities, improvement of health, etc. Why do we administer some preparations and supplements, improving our health and life, while blaming sportspersons that try to promote performance with steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs? Is it fairly? You would note that anabolic steroids and several other performance-enhancing drugs cause health problems. Yes, it is true. But what do you think about usage of caffeine and nicotine? They are accepted in the society. But it is necessary to notice that caffeine and nicotine lead to more serious health troubles than anabolic steroids and other related medicines. Nonetheless, users of caffeine and nicotine are not so harshly blamed, as consumers of steroids.
Anti-doping agencies hope that they will soon eliminate doping from sports. “Competitions will be fair”, - they exclaim. But it is necessary to realize that doping will be never eliminated from sports. Anti-doping officials will not be ever capable to do it. While they elaborate new methods of detection and increase punishment for administration of prohibited substances, sportspersons find new ways to avoid detection. So, everyone should understand that this “game” will never end, if doping is not permitted in sports.

Society supports some dopers while demonizing others

The sportswriter Dan Le Batard notes that it is necessary to think over our attitude to doping. Do we evaluate various athletes the same way? Do we accept intake of steroids and other related products by athletes? What is our real attitude towards athletes that apply steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs/procedures? Do we praise those that have success in sports because of anabolic steroids and other related remedies?
Sometimes the society is guilty for doping of sportspersons. The society should be demonized for abnormal behavior of sportspersons. The society admires of abnormal things that occur in sports. The society expresses admiration of those that have ligaments taken from cadavers. The society praises sportspersons that are involved in various abnormal actions: playing football with catheter, cutting fingers off, etc. Athletes do a lot in order to be celebrated. They submit to various procedures that are not needed for their life. Furthermore, they apply such medicines and procedures which ruin their health. Why do they do such things? The answer is obvious: they want to be praised; they desire to be famous. So, they do it for athletic performance. While sportspersons apply remedies which result in significant harm in them, we support their actions through our admiration, awards, money, etc.
In fact, the society is full of hypocrisy. While we are inclined to blame anabolic steroids and several other prohibited medications, we don’t condemn sportspersons that utilize various procedures for enhancement of their physical performance. While we blame some dopers, we admire of others. Why are some products and procedures forbidden for enhancement of performance, while others are permitted? Let be honest! If you demonize anabolic steroids, don’t support those who utilize alternatives to these products that are also capable to promote athletic performance. If you desire to see natural abilities of sportspersons, don’t support those that submit to various procedures for enhancement of athletic performance! Before you blame or admire someone/something, think over this aspect! Don’t hurry and be honest!

Anti-aging clinics are guilty of illegal sale of steroids and other relate drugs

Many anti-aging clinics are linked with doping scandals. It’s not surprisingly because they supply sportspersons and bodybuilders with steroids and other related medications. When proper authorities raid anti-aging clinics and confiscate medical records, they see that certain prominent sport figures are clients of the clinics.
Lately certain anti-aging clinics located in Miami were investigated. Feds found that the clinics offered prescription drugs for sale illegally. The clinics sold products for increase of muscle mass, fat reduction, enhancement of strength, etc.
According to the newspaper the Miami New Times, the anti-aging clinic Biogenesis was found guilty of illegal sale of doping products. Furthermore, such well-known baseball players, as Alex Rodriquez and Melky Cabrera bought doping products at Biogenesis of America. So, the anti-aging clinic appeared to be linked with one of the biggest steroid scandals in the sport of baseball.
Medical records of Biogenesis were taken from an employee of the clinic. The records were presented on the website of the newspaper Miami New Times. Journalists claimed that the employee who gave the records didn’t want to be identified.
It is reported that anabolic steroids, HGH, IGF-1 and other prescription medicines are widely sold illegally by anti-aging clinics. Furthermore, clinics hire doctors who provide fake prescriptions. Prescriptions for steroids and other related medicines are often given to clients without appropriate evaluation of their individual conditions. Moreover, doctors provide prescriptions even without seeing their patients. In additions to these aspects, some corrupt doctors allow anti-aging clinics to use their prescription pads. As a result, anti-aging clinics sell anabolic steroids, painkillers and other prescription medications illicitly, as if they worked legally.
When illegal activities of anti-aging clinics become obvious, owners of clinics, doctors and certain employees are sentenced to several penalties. Nevertheless, the risk to receive punishment doesn’t stop clinics from their illicit operations. Although proper authorities try to eradicate illicit sale of prescription drugs, their success is not yet essential.

Achievements of Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are fake

Although several individuals think that doping will be never eliminated from sports, you can come across more optimistic points of view related to this issue.
Frank Thomas, a former MLB player claims that he has had success has in baseball without usage of anabolic steroids and other related products. He is happy that he has never doped. Looking at Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, he is proud of his accomplishments in baseball. The baseball stars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have had great success. But now their accomplishments are removed. These sportsmen are claimed to be cheaters. They haven’t been introduced into the Baseball Hall of Fame, despites of their success. Frank Thomas is glad about this aspect. He notices that dopers must never be in the Hall of Fame. Moreover, Frank Thomas claims that he has played during the steroid era successfully without usage of banned drugs.
Frank Thomas notices that he has respected the successful baseball players Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  But since they have used steroids and/or other banned preparations, Frank Thomas doesn’t consider them stars longer. However, he doesn’t have critical words for them. But Frank Thomas thinks that application of performance-enhancing drugs is their decision and they should suffer the consequences, being out of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa turned out to be tainted. Their achievements don’t cost anything because they are fake. Such sportspersons shouldn’t be praised.
Frank Thomas considers that the MLB acts correctly, agreeing to elaborate blood testing for HGH. While baseball players have been subjected to urine testing for HGH, they will be also subjected to blood testing for this prohibited drug systematically. Thus, Frank Thomas thinks that the anti-doping system becomes more effective in the MLB. He suggests that doping will be eliminated from this sport completely. Games will be soon fair, according to Frank Thomas.

Sports will be never “clean”

Many professional sportspersons got steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs from the Miami anti-aging clinic Biogenesis. The famous baseball players Alex Rodriquez, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon also belonged to persons that purchased steroids at this clinic.
What is unusual here? - Nothing. Anabolic steroids and other related medications are widely used in baseball and in other sports. Sportspersons get these medicines at pharmacies, clinics, etc. Many anti-ageing clinics, drug manufacturers and other related establishments distribute steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs illegally. Biogenesis is not the only clinic that is involved in illegal actions linked with steroids and other prescription medications. Sportspersons find various methods to get anabolic steroids and other related medications and use them. Although anti-doping officers try to eliminate doping from sports, their efforts are not successful.
Do you suppose that anti-doping officials don’t work enough well? Do you mean that they should elaborate more sophisticated drug testing programs? Do you consider that they don’t do their job appropriately?
It is important to recognize that no any drug testing system is able to eliminate doping from sports totally. Athletes find many methods to avoid detection. Administration of doping remedies is a part of sports. It exists from ancient time. Even ancient Greeks and Romans had certain methods to increase their performance to win. Will athletes discontinue administering steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs now?
Some sportspersons get undetectable preparations and take them. Furthermore, they hire specialists that supply them with tips for usage of anabolic steroids and/or other doping products. Thus, certain sportspersons have unfair advantage over others. Anti-doping agencies can’t change the situation. They can’t make sports “clean”. What is it needed to do under such circumstances? It is probably necessary to legalize doping in professional sports. So, anyone will be allowed to take whatever he/she desires. As a result, no any sportsperson will have unfair advantage over another.
But since steroids and other related drugs are forbidden in sports, sportspersons try to find methods to purchase and take these medications, avoiding detection. When it becomes obvious that certain sportspersons dope, scandals appear.