Steroids, why are they outlawed from sport?

[Brutalyst]

pokoko said:

Brutalyst said:

pokoko said:
I've never heard of a coach pushing a teenager to have a hip replacement as a competitive advantage.

Really, though, the negative side effects of abusing anabolic steroids can be pretty nasty. They can ultimately destroy the human body over a long period of time. It's even worse if it's a teenager taking them and you know that would happen if professionals are allowed to use.

If that's not enough, I've got one name for you: Chris Benoit.

I appreciate the travesty of Chris Benoit, and if they had evidence that suggests the cause of that was steroids I wouldnt have even started this thread. But there is no evidence, he was on steroids and did a heinous act, but there is no hard link to it being driven by the steroids he was on. Some not on steroids could have done the same thing, if he had asthma and was taking an inhaler, should inhalers be outlawed too?

The Chris Benoit part was mostly a joke.  However, suggesting someone who uses an inhaler to LIVE is the same as someone who uses steroids to get bigger muscles makes no sense.

Regarldess, the rest of what I said is true.  Steroid abuse can cause heart, liver, and kidney damage.  They can also lead to tendon damage.  Now, I'm sure some athletes want to take their chances but what about those who want to do well in sports WITHOUT suffering this kind of damage?  Should we just say, "too bad, you've got to take steroids to keep up"?  Is that really a positive thing?  I don't think so.

I do actually agree with everything you said but still, sometimes someone has to agrue the cuase of others (to try and play Devils advocate). 

 

I dont suppose anyone is saying you HAVE to take steroids to keep up with those who do, but on the same level. You could say to another you dont HAVE to train at being a <insert sport here> player to be as good as those who do, plus those who do train to be that against those who dont, arent they doing just as much damage to themselves, people who have knee/back/neck/even head problems that stem from the sport they did without steroids. You dont have to do it, but if you want to beat them, then you do. If we looked back through history and could do a retrospective check on those probably 1992 and prior to see if they took something to enhance their ability they probably took something.

If they discovered a way to improve performance, such as removing a rib, or replacing a hip, would it still be illegal in sport? and then what of those who genuinely needed those operations?