STEROIDS IN SPORTS

Steroids In Sports

Steroids In Sports

Introduction

It has been known for decades that the use of anabolic steroids among athletes is a serious problem both health and ethical. Numerous examples of violation of sports rules for the use of steroids have been published and have led to the suspension and removed from medals to world-class athletes and professional athletes to many Americans. However, elite athletes are not the only population of individuals who use anabolic steroids. Recreational athletes also use anabolic steroids to enhance performance and improve their physical appearance. In addition, evidence indicates that the use of anabolic steroids often begins in high school (Haupt & Rovere, 2010).

What are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids are lipid derivatives of testosterone, the male hormone, a hormone that naturally possesses both androgenic effects (the development of sexual characteristics and sperm production) and anabolic (growth of skeletal muscle). Anabolic steroids are synthetic steroids, which means that, unlike what we call endogenous, not produced in the body but in pharmaceutical laboratories. There is only one, but there is available about sixty, all different, although they have the basic structure of the hormone testosterone, have different variants (Hartgens & Kuipers, 2009). Specifically, chemical molecules are replaced by others of the compound in order to retard degradation and, in general, metabolism, occurring what is technically known as increased half-life of the compound. The end result is that the steroid remains longer in the body exert its androgenic action. However, due to its affinity for the testosterone molecule, also becomes metabolized in the body in the form of other steroids, which have properties very different from the anabolic. Examples of these compounds are testosterone propionate and nandrolone.

There are several enzymes in the body that convert steroid androgens (male hormones) into estrogens (female hormones) and vice versa. Anabolic steroids are no exception to these metabolic pathways, and for that reason are not "pure anabolic" (Friedl, 2006), so that cause many other effects that are described below. They were developed in the late thirties to treat medical problems due to lack of endogenous steroids, for example, were used to treat cases of hypogonadism. Currently still in use from the clinical point of view similar problems androgenic function, but also prescribed anabolic response to your property, such as are prescribed to AIDS patients to gain muscle. However, its use to increase muscle mass with a purely aesthetic purpose and to better physical performance in athletic competition is prohibited.

But what's the problem? The problem is that we have seen time and again that own coaches provide athletes such anabolic, and gyms are said to be sold is an everyday thing. In the United States are only sold by prescription, but in Mexico, you can buy without a prescription, and they can be found in the veterinary pharmacy with an additional advantage: they are cheaper. Not to be prescribed by a physician, is used to self-medication, and it is estimated that consumers are given amounts up to one hundred times the recommended dose, ...