Officers of the USADA attended the athletes' training or visited them at home to conduct drug tests. Officials and Association experts found that many athletes would risk harmful side effects or disqualification just to take these substances. Professional athletes, like Adam Nelson, however, won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics. He was open and vocal against the use of steroids in sports. He was particularly opposed to the use of steroids in sports because of the promised "brute strength" from their use. He was willing to speak about Balco, THG and other issues about steroids as well as on how Olympian winners could turn their proper training and experience into successful corporate careers. Jeff Bukantz shone because of unrelenting determination, hard work and defensive playing style. He said he took after his father, a four-time Olympic Games competitor. Jeff attained 5th and 6th place rankings. Cindy Bailey was a physical therapist with a rich educational and career background. She too had a lot to share concerning the steroids issue (Business Editors). Opinion

Athletes and other individuals should avoid the use of steroids despite the hard drive to professional success. Sports directors and other officials can do a lot to effect this ban and stop the abusive use of the substances (Svare 2006). A first step would be the realization that we live in a sports environment, hounded by an anabolic steroid epidemic, which has seeped deeply into every type and level of sports. The Mayo Clinic and the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that approximately one million middle and high school-aged young people have experimented with steroids since 2003 and the number has been increasing (Svare).

Other researchers have found that the specific use of anabolic steroids has been progressively rising among both athletes and non-athletes (Svare 2006). Girls and women indulging in these substances have also doubled in number. This is alarming. Consider that our sports culture is quite competitive and this is especially so among younger athletes. Some need to win scholarships while others want to excel or make an edge over others. This trend understandably boosts the use of steroids. Users and...

There also exists enough scientific evidence that steroids produce psychotic episodes, depression, and aggressive behaviors. What can and should be done about the problem?
High school directors should first recognize that the problem exists. Denial will not help. Nationally conducted studies already evidenced that 30-40 young people in every 1,000 students used anabolic steroids. Athletic directors should then respond to the reality by incorporating effective education and prevention programs into the curriculum and policies. The school community should also be educated through workshops and meetings. Directors should recognize the signs of steroid use and the legal consequences of possessing distributing them. Parents too should be educated on their role in promoting a steroid-free environment and society. Athletic directors should encourage parents to freely discuss their children's frustrations in their specific sports. Athletic directors should make parents realize the importance of being front-liners in the campaign.

Bibliography

Brunk, Doug. Athletes Using Steroids Are Wasting Money. Family Practice News:

International Medical News Group, 2000

Business Editors. International Society for Sport Psychiatry Discusses Impact of Steroids on Mental Health. Business Wire: Gale Group, 2005

Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence. Anabolic Steroids. Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence: Gale Research

Laurance, Jeremy. GPs Face Sack Over Athletes' Steroids. The London Independent:

Newspaper Publishing PLC, 2000

Nutrition Health Review. Widespread Misuse of Steroids in Athletes. Vegetus Publications: Gale Group, 2003

Rose, Verna L. Use of Anabolic Steroids. American Family Physician: American

Academy of Family Physicians, 2000

Santora, Tommy. The Specter of Steroids Among Professional and High School Athletes.

New Orleans City Business: Dolan Media Newswires, 2005

Science News. Steroids Stir Mental Backlash. Science Service, Inc.: Gale Group, 2004

Svare, Bruce B. What Athletic Directors Can Do About the Steroid Abuse Crisis. Coach and Athletic Director: Scholastic, Inc., 2006

Will, George F.…