Claim: I think that testing for steroid use should be done more often then what is being done to make sure that athletes do not have any oppertunities to take them.
Evidence: Drug tests for professional athletes along with students in athletic programs are only held once a year. This gives ample time for athletes in their off season to experiement with steroids. We know that this is what happens because of the newscast. The news is always has a story about a professional athlete who tested positive for steroids. Baseball, wrestling, and track are some of the many sports that steroids are abused. A question that I have, which I can't find the answer to. I want to know why the trainers let this happen. I know that some of them might not know that it is going on but I would think that a majority of them would know if their athletes are taking steroids. I would assume that they would let them do anything to be on top of the game and be the best. All in all it would help their paycheck if their players were taking steroids and winning every game. It is just a thought but it makes sence. Give me some feedback if you know anything on the subject.
I think you are on the right track here, Jon, but a good academic argument needs to find more tahn just a general bit of evdiecne like the "newscast." How about doing a search for the numbers of folks who tested positive whne they were surprise tested. Also, how long do thekidns of steroids they are taking stay in people's systems? Can taking steroids intermittetnly like that really enhance performance? In short, ther are other kinds of evidenc you could find to thelp you devleop more specific and concrete evidence..
ReplyDeleteMy question is why don't they drug test more than once a year? It seems to me since the athletes know when these tests will be given, they are going to be more likely to experiment with steroids during that window of opportunity. I want to know if these athletes know the risks of steroids like acne, feminization symptoms in men, and virilization in females. They don't seem to care that there are side effects to these drugs. I read that in Major League Baseball the penelty for steroids use is sitting out for up to 50 games. Why would you want to risk that? I'd like to know how athletes that have gotten caught feel after the fact.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic and will be better understood by a person who has played sports all their lives. I personally play football, baseball, basketball, and track. Have you ever been playing someone and just had that thought in the back of your head "they must be on roids?" This thought crosses my mind many times on the playing field. It is true that some people do use roids and there should be mroe regulation on the use of illegal stimulants in sports. I think that you should develop your grounds and try and find some opposition because if you see the other side you may find your side a little bit stronger and be able to kind of feed off of the flaws in the opposition.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the testing needs to be done more often. I wonder if they have tried a "random" drug testing policy that most schools have. Lets say they had them every 3 months and they were randomly drawn names, it would weed out any potential steroid users or even possibly prevent an athlete from using them in fear of being caught. But in the end I guess, they are going to do what they want in the end ultimately, hence the newscasts of athletes who are caught using.
ReplyDeleteYes I have played baseball, track, basketball, soccer, and I have ran cross country. That is funny you say that because I actually have played against people who have been on steroids and its like they are on a different level physicaly. Its unreal the amount of energy and power that they have at any given moment.
ReplyDeleteI ask myself the same question why they dont test more than once a year. That right there lets players know that they can get away with it. I think that there should be testing every month. Their arguement with that is that drug testing cost money, but if you look at all the money that professional sports makes then im sure they can splurge a little for the tests. Thank you for all of the input guys, this should help me out in finding more information.
They say that all the drugs tests are random but if you are only testing once a year there is ample time to juice up and get it out of you system before the next drug test.
ReplyDeleteTaht's an intersting point,and it would strrngthen your argument some, I think, if you discussed how quickly the easy access steroids move through somebody's system. I'm curious to know if there should be a staged process. for example, some steroids are useful for speeding up recovery from injury but do not build muscle and so forth--should there be some steroids taht are allowed for thsoe purposes--or is that just a smokescreen by lying athletes?
ReplyDeleteSometimes its not as "random" as thought if there could be some way to regulate who picks them or if a computer system picks by somekind of algarithm of names that might help. The once a year thing is not working because i do beleive it takes about a month or two depending on how well your body can break down the steroids to get it out of your system so that would give an athlete plenty of time to juice up build up there strength get off of them and then get straight back on them. Regulation is probably the key to this problem. When it is apparent that there is a problem who is to blame? the athlete or the coach that might be something to think about.
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