The Facts About Enhancement Therapies
Steroids
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The most notorious "performance enhancing" drugs are anabolic steroids. "Anabolic" means to build or grow, in this case to build muscle tissue. Anabolic steroids are derived from the male hormone, testosterone. They bind with protein receptors on cells creating new proteins in the cells, which in turn increases muscle size and strength. |
There are several forms that steroids can come in:
-The powder and tablet
forms are taken orally
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-Liquid forms are taken
orally or injected directly into the muscle tissue
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-Topical agents and creams
are applied on the surface of the muscle area
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Steroids help to rebuild tissue and prevent tissue deterioration and are often
prescribed to patients recovering from surgery or an accident that resulted
in severe tissue loss. But the use of steroids by healthy athletes to increase
performance is generally done illegally. In the United States, Anabolic Steroids
are legally available only through a doctor's prescription. Most doctors refuse
to supply steroids to health individuals because of the risk of side effects.
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Anabolic steroids have been suspected of causing significant damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys. Strokes, heart attacks and cancer have been attributed to steroid abuse. Women are prone to masculinization - deeper voice, excessive body hair, enlarged clitoris. Both sexes are at an increased risk of male pattern baldness. Men can experience testicular atrophy, an enlarged prostate, and the development of breasts. |
Genetic Enhancements
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A relatively new concern is developing on the horizon: the abuse of genetic manipulation to increase the natural ability of human beings. Genetic testing would allow researchers to isolate genes in world-class athletes and then measure the athletic potential of children. And improvements in gene replacement would further develop the ultimate competitor. The possibility of cloning an athlete could lead to a league of Michael Jordans or team of Marshal Faulks. And perhaps the most ominous attribute of these superhumans is the lack of reliable tests that can be used to regulate or even detect genetic manipulation. It is a wide-open field that will undoubtedly revolutionize how sports are played. |
