Anabolic-androgenic steroids are man made substances related to male sex hormones. These steroids are used by athletes to artificially raise testosterone levels in the body. Raising testosterone levels allows the user to train longer and harder, increase muscle mass and add body weight primarily through retention of dietary protein and body fluids. Mark McGwire used androstened

Do the affects, risks, and consequences out weigh the results players get by taking anabolic steroids? I don’t think so. "Former star Jose Cansaco admits that over 85% of baseball players are using performance enhancing drugs." (Vitale) This shows our country that players are taking the easy way out. Fast results in a short amount of time. Drug testing is something that has to be initiated immediately. The players should be tested twice a year and if caught, face long term suspensions and outrageous fines. I believe this is the only way that baseball will ever go back to being honest. Fans want to see the long ball but I believe it will still occur without steroids. It is dangerous and very hazardous to your health.

These consequences have resulted in steroid bans by the NBA, NFL, NCAA and Olympics. Yet despite the increased scrutiny of baseball caused by former National League MVP Ken Caminiti’s admissions of steroid use and his estimates of its use by over half of all Major League baseball players, Major League Baseball continues to operate without a steroid ban or provisions for drug testing. "Many Major League Baseball players contend, that The Players Association is jepordizing the health of its members by resisting mandatory testing for the use of potentially hazardous drugs."(Freeman and Ollney) The only testing ever in baseball has been testing for controlled substances. This also occured only when players were under suspiction or have just been brought up on drug charges. "In a poll by USA Today last summer, in which 556 major league players answered at least one question, 79 percent of the players said they would accept independent testing for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs."(USA Today Gallop poll) In contract talks this summer, there was an agreement in which the players union agreed to steroid testing for the first time. All players will be tested this year as of 2003. In an annonymous drug test, if more than 5% of players test positive, mandatory random tests will go into effect for the next 2 years. "Players would face a graduated scale of pe

Some topics in this essay:
Players Association, Valuable Player, Bonds Pitchers, Department Justice, Jose Cansaco, Associated Press, Jose Conseco, East German, Post July, Steve Bechler, baseball players, drug testing, players steroids, major league, anabolic-androgenic steroids, major league baseball, mark mcgwire, league baseball, performance enhancing drugs, feel steroids, steroids players, mandatory random, league baseball players,