Student Athlete Recruiting Education
Student Athlete Recruiting
Education
May 1997 Newsletter Article
Title: Steriods. Are they worth the risk? NO!
Author:
Ray Lauenstein
Gaining an edge over the competition requires hard work and dedication. There
are no short cuts to your goals. You have to put the hours in weight room and on
the practice field. Unfortunately, a number of high school athletes today, male
and female, think there is a better way to strength, power and speed and
stardom. Steroids. They have no place in sports and they should
have no place in your summer plans either! Here’s why: Steroids are Illegal. It is against state and federal laws to buy and
sell anabolic steroids, other then for specific medical purposes-under the
supervision of a physician. Steroids are outlawed by virtually every athletic
organization. Violation of theses laws and by-laws usually result in the
stripping of eligibility. Risky Business. Like other common illegal street drugs, the source and
actual content of anabolic steroids is always in doubt. What you think you are
buying could be laced or diluted with a harmful replacement. There is no FDA
monitoring the manufacturing of these drugs for your safety. Health Risks Men: Acne, infertility, liver and heart damage, possible
increase in risk of heart disease, baldness, potential link to cancer (yet to be
determined) and others. Other effects: over aggression on and off the
field, propensity for violent outbursts, shrunken testicles. Health Risks Women: Deepening of the voice, growth of facial hair,
increased body hair, enlargement of clitoris. Those are permanent effects, there
are also temporary effects such as menstrual cessation or irregularity,
increased aggressiveness and acne. Women are also prone to many of the same
health risks as men regrading the liver and heart organs Is it worth the risk? 1. Physical damage can be permanent as can your expulsion from sports. 2. You could lose out on athletic eligibility and scholarship money. 3. Lose your education 4. Go to jail or suffer a major fine. 5. Ruin the hard work of teammates. What are my options. 1. Building muscle and gaining weight can occur naturally through diet and
training modifications. Speak to a nutritionist or read Nancy Clark's Sports
Nutrition Guidebook
on ways you can modify your diet to achieve
specific goals. 2. Call the strength and conditioning coach at your local college, tell him
or her your current status and goals and ask if they could recommend a training
program. If your HS has a well developed program stick with that first. Where do I find help. If you or a friend is currently using steroids and need help consider
contacting your school nurse, guidance counselor, coach or school
psychologist. Summary Can you get bigger and stronger by lifting weights and
changing your diet? Yes. Can you can as big and strong as if you used steroids.
No. But weigh these odds: 1 of 100 SA’s play college and 1 of 10,000 play pro
sports. Is it worth risking physical, legal and emotional well-being against an
unrealistic dream? Definitely not!