Summary: Steroids In Professional Sports

Over the past three seasons, the NFL alone has reported over 690 concussion related injuries causing major athletes such as Ben Roethlisberger, Devonta Freeman, DeAndre Hopkins, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to miss significant time on the field (CNN 2015). Testing in sports have always been significant, but as of late, they have come to the forefront following the large concussion lawsuit filed against the National Football League and the countless names emerging from Major League Baseball for being linked to performance enhancing drugs. Health and player safety is becoming the number one issue for many of the professional sports leagues including the National Basketball Association and the Federation International de Futbol Association

This list includes: anabolic agents such as testosterone and desoxymethyltestosterone which aid in muscle growth, Growth hormones such as erythropoiesis and fibroblast growth factor which promotes fully body growth, Beta antagonists such as inhaled salbutamol and formoterol, and other illegal substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines (World Anti-Doping Agency 2015). Several different testing methods are used in professional sports today. The most common tests presented are urine, blood, and hair tests, but blood and urine are typically taken for most athletic events. Urine tests are the least expensive, ranging between one hundred fifty dollars to two hundred dollars. They typically can test for substances that were used up to two months previous. Hair testing is regarded for having the longest test length, being able to test over three months previous (Mobilehealth.net

Insulin, a drug used to save the lives of people who suffer from diabetes, has recently been used by many athletes to increase muscle growth. The problem is that these protein can have a severe side effect if taken incorrectly or in wrong amounts. It can cause serious health complications, and even deaths. Drug testing and the strict punishments that can come along with it need to be enforced much more than they are today. The fines and suspensions we have seen as of late are a stepping stone to rid athletics of the performance enhancing substances. These are necessary not only to “clean up” the different sports, but also for player