Steroid use by boxers

Anabolic steroids are widely used around the world. While certain individuals apply these preparations in order to treat several diseases, others use them in order to enhance muscle mass, add strength, burn fat, etc. Undoubtedly, nobody will be ever able to contest positive results which can be achieved with the help of these preparations. But it is necessary to remember that anabolic steroids cause undesirable results along with benefits. That’s why those who plan to apply these products should study potential dangers before they begin to use these medicines.
Knowing about probable risks, you can find several methods in order to avoid or decrease them. Those that have ever taken anabolic steroids know that some of them convert into estrogen in the body, causing such unwanted reactions, as water retention, gynecomastia, fat accumulation, etc. Anti-estrogen drugs are capable to prevent or at least to reduce severity of these health problems. Anabolic-androgenic steroids also suppress natural production of testosterone. Luckily, there are some remedies that are able to restore this process.
Besides of drugs, there are also other ways to prevent or reduce negative reactions. Dosages should be lowered; cycles must not be long; proper stacks should be chosen, etc.
While some undesirable results of steroids are evident, others can be detected just with the help of lab tests. So, steroids may increase hematrocrit levels. This negative result is quite dangerous. Elevated hematocrit levels cause other grave unwanted effects. Individuals with this problem may face diseases of cardiovascular system and disorders connected with blood circulation. Even heart attack and death may result from high hematocrit levels. That’s why it is needed to check hematocrit levels while applying anabolic-androgenic steroids.
If a steroid user learns that he/she has elevated hematocrit levels, this person should consult his/her treating doctor. Steroid use must be stopped. Doctors appoint medicines for reduction of hematocrit levels. So, hematocrit levels should return to their normal levels. Otherwise, additional problems will appear.
Hematocrit levels should be kept within normal range. There are several simple rules which should be kept by sportspersons for this purpose. Those who train hardly should drink much water. Moreover, it is recommended consuming grapefruit. It is stated that this fruit contains a substance which is able to reduce high hematocrit levels.
In case you desire to avoid having high hematocrit levels, don’t apply anabolic steroids!

Elevated hematocrit levels cause serious health troubles

Tony Thompson, an American boxer, says that steroids and other doping products should be legalized in boxing. The sportsman states that anti-doping laws and gun laws are identical. Who doesn’t break gun laws? Only good guys do it. That’s why good guys are at a disadvantage. Thus, the similar situation is related to anti-doping rules. Just honest athletes don’t administer steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs. So, they fight with those who have enhanced their performance with the help of steroids and other related medications.
It is stated that steroids are banned in sports because they are dangerous. What would you claim about boxing in itself? Isn’t boxing dangerous? The answer is obvious.
But it is also stated that it is needed to ban steroids and other related products in order to make boxing safer. Anabolic steroids and other doping products increase performance. The more increased performance is, the more dangerous rounds are. However it is true, would you prohibit anything which promotes performance of boxers? So, you ban anabolic steroids because they increase performance. Then prohibit trainings as well since they promote performance too! Thus, you will reduce performance while minimizing possible risks. What do you think about this condition?
Tony Thompson also adds that detection tests are not efficient at all. While numerous sportspersons take banned drugs, just some of them are caught and sentenced to suspensions. Thus, dopers have unfair advantage over those who keep anti-doping rules. Where is fairness? Where is logic?
Of course, statements expressed by Tony Thompson are reasonable. Anti-doping laws make fights more unfair. Moreover, the prohibition of doping doesn’t make rounds safer. Many boxers continue to take steroids and/or other prohibited medications without being caught. They continue to fight and have success with the help of doping, while good guys are at a disadvantage because they don’t break anti-doping rules.
So, if doping is legalized in boxing, fights will be fairer. Of course, they will remain unsafe. But they will be at least fair.
Tony Thompson has been harshly criticized for his arguments pro legalization of doping in boxing.

Doping has its roots in ancient time

Anabolic steroids are regularly taken by sportspeople, bodybuilders and by ordinary individuals. Since these preparations are forbidden in sports, doping scandals appear day by day. Other remedies are taken along with steroids. Numerous athletes are inclined to use heroin. You would probably wonder why heroin is used in sports. It is believed that heroin is used by sportspersons for relief of pain.
Studying history of doping in sports, you can notice that athletes are ready to take a lot of strange things, if these remedies are capable to increase muscle mass, ban fat, add strength, speed recovery from muscle injuries and kill pains. Gorgets and pickle juice represent only some remedies which are used along with anabolic steroids.
Doping is not a new issue in sports. Athletes dope from ancient times. They put efforts to develop new remedies which can help them to reach certain goals through increase of performance. It is often claimed that sports are good for health. Athletes and bodybuilders are commonly viewed as healthy individuals. But it is a wrong point of view. Sports are connected with several risks for health. Sportspersons push their bodies till limits. They take several dangerous remedies that promote their succeeding, obtaining awards and getting money. However several athletes achieve brilliant results linked with prizes, they ruin their health significantly. Some sportspersons and bodybuilders even take such drugs that may be fatal. They do it in the name of physical performance and success in sports.
Although new remedies for enhancement of performance are introduced, you probably see that the most of scandals are linked with anabolic steroids and growth hormones. While some medications appear and disappear quickly, anabolic-androgenic steroids are unlikely to disappear. However anti-doping agencies try to eliminate usage of anabolic steroids from sports, their efforts are unsuccessful. While anti-doping officers develop more effectual tests for detection of steroids and other related medications, athletes and bodybuilders find more sophisticated ways to dope and avoid detection. So, a lot of athletes dope while not being caught by anti-doping agencies. Nobody can contest that anabolic steroids and several other performance-enhancing drugs are widely taken in the world of sports and bodybuilding. Usage of steroids is unlikely to be eradicated from sports.

Steroids will be probably blamed for murder committed by Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius admitted that he had murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. But the sportsman claimed that he had murdered her because he had mistaken her for an intruder.
Police officers try to define why the Olympic athlete actually murdered Reeva Steenkamp. They discovered anabolic steroids at the sportsman’s home.
Since anabolic steroids have been found in Oscar’s bedroom, it would be possibly argued that steroids caused uncontrolled aggression in the sportsman. Steroids would be blamed for the murder.
In fact, you should realize that it is quite hardly to claim that anabolic steroids are responsible for aggression and violent behavior. Researches linked with this issue are quite limited. According to results of some studies, consumers of steroids are predisposed to aggression, paranoia, jealousy, etc. It is stated that those that take steroids are more likely to be involved in crimes than those who have nothing to do with these products. But it is important to take in consideration that steroids may just contribute to aggression. Only these medicines alone can’t lead to aggression. They turn out to be only factors that contribute into uncontrolled aggression. Other factors should be also present in order to cause aggression. Circumstances play significant role in such cases. Thus, it is even impossible to determine whether anabolic steroids cause aggression or several circumstances. Violent cases should be viewed as a complex of steroid use and circumstances.
It is also stated by scientists that increased testosterone levels are connected with aggression in some persons. So, it is necessary to specify here that while certain individuals with enhanced testosterone levels experience aggression, others with increased testosterone levels are not predisposed to uncontrolled violence. This condition differs from one individual to another.
You can see that the connection between usage of steroids and crimes is a complicated issue. Specialists have not studied this condition well enough to engage it. Thus, if defense lawyers of the Olympic athlete want to argue that steroids have made their client to kill his girlfriend, they should realize that they are going to use controversial statements.

Fate of EPO encourages pharmaceutical companies to collaborate with anti-doping officers

Today a lot of drug manufacturers are ready to collaborate with anti-doping agencies in their war on administration of forbidden medicines in sports. It sounds strange but this is the reality. In fact, if you review the fate of EPO, you can comprehend why pharmaceutical companies agree to support efforts of anti-doping officials. EPO is really an effectual remedy for treatment of anemia. Many persons 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 preparation has been abused by the American cyclist Lance Armstrong that has cheated the whole world. Thus, EPO is associated only with cheating, shame, etc. Looking at this case, pharmaceutical companies try to “defend” their products from the similar fate. That’s why they work together with anti-doping agencies.
Although certain drug manufacturers started to cooperate with anti-doping officers long ago, sometimes there were several problems between them. Anti-doping officials criticized certain pharmaceutical companies for their connections with doping.
Today relations between anti-doping agencies and pharmaceutical companies are closer. Drug manufacturers share detailed information about new medicines with anti-doping agencies. It is precious information for development of detection tests for these medications. While anti-doping officials learn how medicines are manufactured, how they pass into body, how they work in the body, they can introduce more efficient tests for these drugs.
For example, the company Roche that elaborated the medication CERA helped anti-doping officers to elaborate 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 Olympics in London.
While relations between anti-doping officers and big pharmaceutical companies become stronger, smaller pharmaceutical companies begin to cooperate with anti-doping agencies too. While previously pharmaceutical companies haven’t wanted to discuss about their relations with anti-doping agencies openly, nowadays they don’t fear to announce about this condition.

Athletes should be never banned for doping

It is not necessary to subject sportspersons to tests for performance-enhancing substances. Many cases show that tests for banned medicines are not efficient. In addition to this factor, it is important to understand that application of tests by anti-doping officers is not logical at Olympics. The main purpose of Olympic athletes is following: to become faster, stronger and to be at the top level. So, why should you keep sportspersons far from drugs that could help them to achieve this result?
As you know, anabolic-androgenic steroids and other related medicines increase performance. So, athletes should be allowed to administer these remedies in order to enhance physical performance.
Numerous individuals claim 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 medicines make competitions unfair. Many athletes take performance-enhancing drugs while avoiding detection. So, some sportspersons use steroids; others don’t violate anti-doping rules. As a result, users of doping products have unfair advantage over non-dopers. It’s unfair. Let all sportspersons have similar access to performance-enhancing drugs. Thus, competitions will be fairer.
But discussing unfairness in sports, you should remember about other aspects that have more essential impact of fairness/unfairness than anabolic steroids and other related products. Certain sportspersons live in developed countries; others are in less developed countries. Some sportspersons have money to buy necessary equipment; others can’t afford it. Several countries can sponsor sportspeople, trainers, sport physicians and managers; others are not able to do it. So, unfairness should be discussed here.
Olympic sportspersons spend much time while training. They sacrifice time, money, etc. That’s why it is illogical to disqualify those that are caught using anabolic steroids and other doping products.
While sportspeople are sentenced to suspensions for usage of anabolic steroids and several other chemical substances, they are never banned for usage of herbs and certain potions. It is stated that anabolic steroids and other chemical substances are suspended in sports because they can enhance athletic performance. But what is for herbs and potions? They are also capable to add energy. Nevertheless, these remedies are not forbidden in sports.  Chinese sportspersons use herbal remedies and win.
Of course, you may argue that anabolic steroids and certain other medicines may result in severe side effects. Undoubtedly, several forbidden preparations may cause serious health problems. But those that plan to apply these products do own research. They know about probable risks. Let athletes decide whether it is worthy to use such preparations. If they are ready to ruin health, let them do it because they are masters upon own bodies.

Where steroids sold at gyms come from?

David Howman, the CEO of the WADA, claims that China is the main source of raw materials utilized by underground labs for manufacture of anabolic steroids, HGH and other related preparations. Raw powders are sent from this country. Then underground labs produce illegal medications that are offered for sale by dealers at gyms and on the streets.
The black market of anabolic steroids controls sales of illegal drugs on the white market. The black market turns out to be the source of preparations which are available on the white market. It is stated that almost all drugs that are sold have been primarily obtained from underground labs that have used raw materials from China.
Elite sportspersons are frequently criticized for intake of anabolic steroids and other related preparations. Since steroid scandals appear daily, thousands individuals consider that anabolic steroids and other related preparations are mainly taken by elite sportspersons. But it is necessary to note that this a wrong point of view. Some experts have determined that steroids and other related medicines are more widely applied by high school students and aged persons who try to improve their appearance. While students desire to increase muscles with the help of anabolic steroids and certain other illegal medicines, aged persons try to increase strength and reduce fat deposits with the help of these medications.
Unfortunately, legal supplements often contain steroidal substances. Companies add such compounds intentionally. As a result, those who apply only nutritional and/or sport supplements turn out to be consumers of steroids. According to the WADA director David Howman, it is important to supervise supplement industry in order to prevent appearing of supplements that contain steroidal ingredients.

Anti-doping officers will never be capable to “clean” sports

What is your point of view linked with legalization of doping in sports?  Several individuals consider that it is time to legalize it. Others are against it. What do you believe?
Those who are against legalization of doping in sports think that anabolic steroids and other related medications represent essential evil. They may cause grave negative effects in users. Furthermore, a doper has unfair advantage over a non-doper during competitions.
According to another point of view, application of steroids and other doping products should be permitted in sports. Let sportspersons administer whatever they want! If they desire to take anabolic steroids, let them do it! If they intend to take other preparations, let them do it! If they want to use some medicines, let health care providers manage their application! Physicians know what their patients should do in order to avoid some negative consequences. So, doping products will not lead to serious undesirable effects. As a result, usage of anabolic steroids and other related preparations will be relatively safe for health and life of consumers.
As you know, anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are currently banned in sports. When sportspersons are suspected and/or found guilty of doping, scandals appear. Such cases are often discussed during TV shows, in magazines, newspapers, on internet, etc. You must know that each scandal commonly contains not only truth but also gossips, exaggerations, etc. As a result, you can’t assure whether several affirmations are true or not.
Those who are against legalization of doping in sports believe that sportspersons increase performance unnaturally with the help of steroids and other related medicines. Discussing about enhancement of physical performance, you should not forget about enhancement of sexual performance, cognitive skills, improvement of health, etc. Why do we administer some medications and supplements, improving our health and life, while demonizing athletes that try to promote performance with anabolic steroids and other doping products? Isn’t it hypocrisy? You would notice that anabolic steroids and several other doping products cause health problems. Yes, it is true. But what do you consider about usage of caffeine and nicotine? They are accepted in the society. But it is necessary to note that caffeine and nicotine lead to more serious health problems than steroids and other related preparations. Nevertheless, users of caffeine and nicotine are not so harshly demonized, as users of steroids.
Anti-doping agencies think that they will soon eradicate doping from sports. “Sports will be clean”, - they exclaim. But it is necessary to realize that doping will be never eradicated from sports. Anti-doping officers will not be ever capable to do it. While they elaborate new tests and increase penalties for administration of forbidden substances, athletes find new ways to avoid detection. So, everyone should understand that this conflict will never end, if doping is not permitted in sports.

Different attitudes to dopers

Dan Le Batard, a newspaper sportswriter, claims that it is needed to think over our attitude to doping. Do we evaluate various athletes identically? Do we accept intake of steroids and other related preparations by sportspersons? What is our real attitude towards athletes that utilize anabolic steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs/procedures? Do we admire of those that have success in sports because of anabolic steroids and other related remedies?
Sometimes the society is guilty for doping of athletes. The society should be demonized for abnormal behavior of sportspersons. The society expresses admiration of abnormal things that occur in the world of sports. The society expresses admiration of those that have ligaments taken from cadavers. The society praises athletes that are involved in various abnormal actions: competing with catheter, cutting fingers off, etc. Athletes do a lot in order to become famous. They submit to various procedures which are not needed for their life. Moreover, they apply such preparations and procedures that ruin their health. Why do they do such things? The answer is evident: they want to be praised; they desire to be prominent. Thus, they do it in the name of physical performance. While athletes utilize remedies that cause essential harm in them, we support their actions through our admiration, awards, money, etc.
Actually, the society is hypocritical. While we are inclined to demonize steroids and certain other prohibited drugs, we don’t condemn athletes that use different procedures for increase of their physical performance. While we demonize several dopers, we admire of others. Why are several products and procedures prohibited for increase of performance, while others are allowed? Let be reasonable! If you demonize steroids, don’t support those that use alternatives to these preparations that are also capable to promote physical performance. If you want to see natural talents of athletes, don’t admire of those that submit to various procedures for enhancement of physical performance! Before you demonize or praise someone/something, ponder over this aspect! Don’t hurry and be honest!

Role of anti-aging clinics in doping scandals

Numerous anti-aging clinics are linked with doping scandals. It’s naturally because they supply sportspersons and bodybuilders with steroids and other related medicines. When appropriate authorities search anti-aging clinics and seize medical records, they find out that several successful sport figures are clients of the clinics.
Recently several anti-aging clinics located in Miami were investigated. Federal agents found that the clinics offered prescription drugs for sale illegally. The clinics sold products for enhancement of muscle mass, weight loss, enhancement of endurance, etc.
According to the newspaper the Miami New Times, the anti-aging clinic Biogenesis was found guilty of illicit sale of performance-enhancing drugs. Furthermore, such well-known baseball players, as Alex Rodriquez and Melky Cabrera purchased doping products at Biogenesis of America. So, the anti-aging clinic appeared to be connected 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 provided the records didn’t want to be identified.
It is reported that steroids, HGH, IGF-1 and other prescription drugs are widely offered for sale illegally by anti-aging clinics. Moreover, clinics hire doctors that provide fake prescriptions. Prescriptions for steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are often given to clients without required examination of their personal conditions. Furthermore, doctors supply clients with needed prescriptions even without seeing them. In additions to these aspects, several corrupt physicians permit anti-aging clinics to utilize their prescription pads. Thus, anti-aging clinics sell anabolic steroids, painkillers and other prescription drugs illicitly, as if they acted legally.
When illegal activities of anti-aging clinics become evident, owners of clinics, doctors and certain employees are sentenced to certain penalties. Nevertheless, the risk to get punishment doesn’t stop clinics from their illegal activities. However proper authorities try to eliminate illicit sale of prescription medicines, their success is not yet essential.

Baseball games will be soon “clean”

Although some individuals believe that doping will be never eradicated from sports, you can come across more optimistic opinions linked with this issue.
The former MLB player Frank Thomas claims that he has had success has in baseball without administration of steroids and other doping products. He is glad that he has never doped. Looking at Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, he is proud of his achievements 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 considered to be liars. They haven’t been elected for the Baseball Hall of Fame, despites of their success. Frank Thomas is happy about this aspect. He notices that consumers of steroids must never be in the Hall of Fame. Furthermore, Frank Thomas says that he has played during the steroid era successfully without administration of prohibited medications.
Frank Thomas notices that he has respected the great baseball players Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  But since they have administered steroids and/or other forbidden drugs, Frank Thomas doesn’t consider them stars longer. However, he doesn’t have critical words for them. But Frank Thomas claims that administration of doping products is their decision and they should suffer the consequences, being out of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have been tainted. Their achievements don’t cost anything because they are fake. Such sportsmen 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 medicine regularly. So, Frank Thomas claims that the anti-doping system becomes more effectual in the MLB. He suggests that doping will be eradicated from this sport entirely. Games will be soon fair, according to Frank Thomas.

Doping should be legalized in sports

Numerous professional sportspersons got steroids and other doping products from Biogenesis, a Miami anti-aging clinic. The famous baseball stars Alex Rodriquez, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon also belonged to persons who got anabolic steroids at this clinic.
What is unusual here? - Nothing. Steroids and other related medicines are widely administered in baseball and in other sports. Athletes buy these medicines at pharmacies, clinics, etc. Numerous anti-ageing clinics, pharmaceutical companies and other related establishments sell steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs illegally. Biogenesis is not the only clinic that is involved in illicit operations linked with steroids and other prescription medications. Sportspersons find various methods to acquire anabolic steroids and other related preparations and apply them. Although anti-doping agencies try to eliminate doping from sports, their efforts are not successful.
Do you consider that anti-doping officers don’t work enough well? Do you believe that they should establish more sophisticated drug testing policies? Do you consider that they don’t do their job properly?
It is necessary to recognize that no any drug testing policy is able to eliminate doping from sports totally. Athletes find certain ways to avoid detection. Administration of doping remedies is a part of sports. It exists from ancient time. Even ancient Greeks and Romans had some methods to enhance their performance to win. Will sportspersons stop using anabolic steroids and other related medications now?
Some sportspersons get undetectable medications and apply them. Moreover, they hire experts that supply them with tips for administration of anabolic steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs. Thus, certain athletes have unfair advantage over others. Anti-doping officers can’t change the situation. They are not able to make sports “clean”. What is it needed to do under such circumstances? It is probably better to legalize doping in professional sports. So, anyone will be permitted to administer whatever he/she desires. As a result, no any sportsperson will have unfair advantage over another.
But since steroids and other related medicines are prohibited in sports, sportspersons try to find ways to purchase and use these products, avoiding detection. When it becomes evident that certain sportspersons dope, scandals appear.