Facing the Reality of Steroids in Professional Sports

It was a beautiful evening on Aug. 7, 2007, at San Francisco’s AT&T Park when the crowd cheered as Barry Bonds stepped up to the plate. After a full count, the crowd quieted. From the thousands in the stands to the thousands around the world watching from home, there was one question at hand. Is tonight the night he breaks the record? With a pitch from Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik, Bonds sent the ball to center field and over the wall. He’s done it, were the words echoing around the world from announcers. What record did he break?, you ask. Bonds had broken the record held by Hank Aaron for the most career home runs. Despite all the criticism, Bonds had finally made history and was on top of the world

On Nov. 15, just two months after hitting 756 home runs and breaking the record, Bonds was indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. For many years, rumors about Bonds using steroids were everywhere. After his trainer, Greg Anderson, admitted to supplying steroids to some of the individuals he trained, Bonds immediately came under scrutiny. In December 2003, Bonds had denied stories of his trainer supplying him steroids in front of a federal grand jury. Almost four years later, many believe he lied under oath.

But in the case of steroid use, Bonds is not the only person being looked at. Athletes from baseball, track and field, and even football are coming up with positive tests for HGH (human growth hormone) and other steroids. So the question is: Has steroids taken over the sports world?

Coming off of three gold and two bronze medal wins in the Sydney Olympics, track and field star Marion Jones admitted her use of steroids after being indicted. On Oct. 5, 2007, Jones plead guilty to two counts of lying to a federal agent about her steroid use. After Jones’ last court appearance on Jan. 11, she was sentenced to six months in prison for lying about steroid use and taking part in a check-fraud scam. Questions surrounding steroid use began after investigations of her boyfriend, Tim Montgomery, and former husband and shot-putter, C.J. Hunter, became big news. Accusations followed by Victor Conte, founder and president of the notorious BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative), which has been investigated for providing steroids to athletes. Everyone knew Jones was a great track and field star. But was she good enough to win five Olympic medals and beat her closest competitor in one race by a clear second? A second may not seem like a lot of time, but in track, wins come by more like tenths of a second.

After two of the biggest names in the sports world have been prosecuted for lying about their steroid use, and one being convicted, it begs the question if there are any athletes today who are not using steroids. Almost every week, there is a new story on an athlete testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. One of the big sports taking a hit from this is baseball. After a book written by former baseball star Jose Canseco, who admitted to steroid use, told stories about several baseball players on steroids, investigations of other players followed. In Canseco’s book, he accuses Marc McGwire of steroid use. Recently, the big name of New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens has come to the forefront. Leaks about his steroid use are beginning to hit the fan. With the league becoming more competitive each year, many players feel as though they have to perform at a higher level.

Another sport that has been hit with the steroid bug lately is football. In 2004, Superbowl contenders the Carolina Panthers were involved in a huge steroid scandal. Dr. James Shortt was found to have written prescriptions for steroids for several Panthers: Kevin Donnalley, John Milem, Jeff Mitchell, Todd Sauerbrun, Todd Steussie, Wesley Walls, and practice squad player Louis Williams. Since that point, the NFL has made progress in not letting that happen again. At the same time, more and more football players every year are testing positive for steroids, but many feel their punishment is lenient. So what kind of message is this sending to young athletes today – that cheating has become acceptable?

In a society in which the strong seem to thrive, many athletes are doing things to make sure they are the strongest. But this just isn’t in the professional sports world; high school and college athletes are testing the waters as well. It seems like athletes are getting better as time progresses. Many try to get the edge and become the best. In the world of high school and college-level sports, steroid use is on the rise.

Barry University sophomore starting pitcher Robbie Conver says, “Everyone in the professional leagues uses them. You do what you have to do to get to the top.”

When asked if he thinks that steroids will soon reach the realm of basketball, Barry University junior guard, Uli de la Vega says, “I don’t think it will affect the basketball world as bad as the other sports, such as baseball and football. Sports like football and baseball require power; but basketball is more a finesse sport. So since steroids are for power, I don’t think basketball players would take a chance and ending up hurting themselves.”

Though many may try to deny it, getting injected with HGH is as easy as going to the doctor and having it done right in the office. Clearly this is an issue. In March 2004, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimated that at least a half-million eighth and tenth graders had taken steroids. In light of that, precautions have been taken to discourage steroid use at such a young age. According to an article published in USA Today on Dec. 21, 2005, student athletes in the state of New Jersey were to face steroid testing in the fall of 2006. Since testing went forward, a reported two percent of the 500 student athletes tested positive for steroids. Also in the article, a high school coach, Greg Toal, who began coaching at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., in 1999, said, “Kids at 17 and 18 think they're invincible. If testing is what helps stop them from using steroids, then do it.”

A different study conducted the same year indicated that nearly 1.1 million Americans said they had used anabolic steroids. Since that time, the numbers have steadily increased. It seems as though steroid use has become too common. But over the last couple of months, facts have shown that frequent drug use can lead to death.

In the world of professional wrestling, the deaths of Chris Benoit, who killed his wife and 7-year-old son and then committed suicide earlier this year, and Eddie Guerreo in 2005 were attributed to continued steroid use. This should be a sign to many that steroids are dangerous. But as time progresses, steroid use gets worse. So I pose a few questions to those reading this: What can be done to halt this? Or has steroid use become so big that it can’t be stopped until competitive sports as we know it radically change or cease to exist?