Muscle strength and size play an integral part in the performance of some sports. Building muscle takes time, and each person's body develops differently. Many athletes look for an easier way to build substantially bigger muscles, and more than one million people in the United States find this muscle enhancer in anabolic steroids.

The concept of creating a drug to build muscle originated in the early 1950s. American physicians realized that Soviet athletes were dominating international strength events. They attributed this domination to the athletes' use of testosterone. In their quest for strength, the Soviet athletes also suffered from a large variety of very serious side effects due to their testosterone use. These side effects included severe heart problems, sterility, and death.

Led by Dr. John Ziegler, a group of physicians dreamed of developing a drug that would have the same results as testosterone but would not have the adverse side effects. Unfortunately, Dr. Ziegler's dream turned into a nightmare, and he came to regret his role in the invention of anabolic steroids: "I wish I'd never heard the word 'steroid.' These kids do not realize the price they'll pay."

Side effects
Use of anabolic steroids carries the high price of many dangerous, and often irreversible, side effects. Side effects in men include sterility, impotence, cancer, heart disease, liver damage, and death. Additional side effects that specifically affect women include voice deepening, increased facial hair, and menstrual irregularity. Anabolic steroids also can cause psychological problems. "Roid rage" has become a characteristic of the steroid user. This psychological side effect is a sudden explosion of violent and destructive behavior that can result in severe personal injury and property damage, often without any recollection on the part of the steroid user. The steroid user obviously is risking a great deal to gain the strength and muscle size that he or she desires.

Are any steroids safe?
Anabolic steroids are not corticosteroids. Anabolic is a term that describes the muscle-building capacity of the steroid drug. Corticosteroids, such as cortisone, are used to treat many conditions that require an anti-inflammatory medication. These conditions include asthma, arthritis, and a variety of joint injuries. Physicians have used corticosteroids for many years to safely and effectively treat a wide variety of injuries and illnesses.

Doping control
Anabolic steroids are not available without a prescription. However, users buy them on a very active black market that earns an estimated $100 million each year by feeding the users' desire for these drugs. Many efforts have been made to reduce the effectiveness of this illegal activity.
Drug testing has effectively reduced the incidence of steroid use in some sports. The National Collegiate Athletic Association and the International Olympic Committee have both instituted stiff penalties for athletes who test positive for steroids. Two of the most noted athletes who have tested positive for steroid use are Brian Bosworth of the University of Oklahoma and Canadian Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson.

Drug testing is only as effective as the sanctions that it carries. The penalties must be severe for athletes to realize that it is not worth risking a career by using steroids.

Why would an athlete want to take anabolic steroids? Many steroid users say that they take them to keep up with other athletes in their sport who are taking them. Others feel that they can't bear the pressure of the sport without the added edge that steroids supposedly give them. Most experts believe that the desire to achieve a certain goal drives athletes to use anabolic steroids. Whether it be the Super Bowl, the Olympics, or a national championship, some athletes will do anything it takes to win - even if that means destroying their own bodies.

Bruce Getz, ATC
Columbus, Georgia