Athletes and Steroids

Anabolic steroids are powerful drugs that many people take in high doses to boost athletic performance. Anabolic means "Body building tissue." Anabolic steroids help build muscle tissue and increase body mass by acting like the body's natural male hormone, testosterone.

Lower doses of Anabolic steroids sometimes are used to treat a handful of very serious medical conditions. Anabolic steroids are the ones abused by athletes and others who want a shortcut to becoming bigger and stronger.

In the past, steroid use was seen mostly in college, Olympic, and professional sports. Today, steroids are being used by athletes as well as non-athletes, in high schools and middle schools. Most major professional and amateur athletic organizations have banned steroids for use by their athletes. These organizations include the International Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Football League (NFL).

Most common users of steroids are athletes involved in sports that rely on strength and size, like football, wrestling, and baseball.

Various anabolic steroids. Author: Wikidudeman (ta...

Numerous vials of injectable anabolic steroids, wh...

Several large buckets of anabolic steroid vials co...

Endurance athletes, such as those involved in track, cross country, and swimming. Athletes involved in weight training or bodybuilding. Anyone interested in building and defining muscles\

Many people that take steroids take them orally, which is in a pill form. Others Inject them with a needle, which are at a high risk to get Hepatitis B and HIV. Some athletes take even higher doses, called "megadoses," to produce faster results. Others gradually increase the amount they take over time, which is called "pyramiding." Taking different kinds of anabolic steroids, possibly along with other drugs, is a particularly dangerous practice known as "stacking."

Steroids can cause serious health problems. Many changes take place inside the body and may not be noticed until it is too late. Some of the effects will go away when steroid use stops, but...