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Steroids In Sports (November 21, 2003, Two)

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Program Summary

Use of performance-enhancing drugs (doping) is strictly prohibited in both amateur and professional sports because they give users an unfair advantage and are potentially physically harmful. Athletes routinely undergo urine and blood tests following competitions to check for these drugs, and some have been stripped of medals or titles after testing positive for their presence. The sports world was shaken recently when several Oakland Raiders football players came up positive for an anabolic steroid called THG. Testing for THG had never been done before because it was not known to exist. Thanks to an unidentified track coach who turned over a syringe of the substance to officials, scientists were able to decode the chemical makeup of the synthetic hormone and develop a test for it.

Anabolic steroids, which build muscle, have been widely used in sports that require strength, such as baseball, football, swimming, weight lifting, and some track and field events. While steroids are effective for increasing bulk, they are addictive and extremely dangerous, often leading to "feminization" in males and "masculinization" in females, weak bones, and uncontrollable anger called "roid rage." In children, steroids can close skeletal growth plates and cause stunting. Steroids are even thought to cause cancer. Despite the known risks, however, steroid usage is still rampant, perhaps because of the big financial payoffs in modern sports. Doctors and sports officials worry that other unknown "designer" (created) steroids are available on the black market and that children as young as 12 may have access to them.

Guests

Donald Catlin, director of the Olympic Analytical Laboratory and professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles

Related Links and Resources

MEDLINEplus: Anabolic Steroids
ESPN.com, September 6, 2003: “Anabolic Steroids”
National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report Series: Steroid Abuse and Addiction
NIDA InfoFacts: Steroids
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, October 28, 2003: “FDA Statement on THG”

For Discussion:

• Why do athletes use anabolic steroids?
• How do steroids affect the brain and the body?
• Why are some steroids called “designer ” drugs?
• Do you think athletes who have used performance-enhancing drugs should have the medals and prizes that they’ve won rescinded?
• Why do you think teenagers use steroids? Would you ever consider using them?

Activities

Risky business. Two excellent Web sites deal with the subject of steroid use among teens. Information is presented in a straightforward manner without hysterical overtones. Are Steroids Worth the Risk?, from Kidshealth.org, is a good overview of the dangers of steroids. The National Institute on Drug Abuse presents Mind Over Matter: The Brain's Response to Steroids. The specific changes in the brain and body that steroids cause are detailed, and the difference between anabolic and corticosteroids is explained. A short quiz reviews the material; a Teacher’s Guide accompanies the piece.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Real News About Drugs and Your Body is a collaborative effort by Scholastic.com and the NIDA to educate children about drug abuse. Games, interactives, quizzes, and true stories communicate the message. The section on Steroids focuses on body dismorphic disorder (an unreal, negative image of one’s body) as one of the causes of steroid use. Behind the Bulk: Craig's Story tells of a teen who turned to steroids to build up his body and overcome feelings of inadequacy. The true story details the health and marriage problems that resulted and how he conquered his addiction.

The truth and nothing but. Steroids: The Hard Truth is an episode of PBS’s “In the Mix.” Video clips highlight discussions with teens and doctors about steroid abuse. One abuser tells how he sank into a life of crime to support his steroid addiction. Students can participate in polls and are encouraged to send in their opinions and feelings on the subject in any form they wish. The Discussion Guide for the episode contains thoughtful questions and activities that explore subjects such as self-image, supplements, nutrition, and physical effects of steroids.

He’s a bad sport. Have students read Caminiti Comes Clean (Sportsillustrated.com), an article about a former Most Valuable Player in baseball who admits that he was on steroids, but would still not discourage others from using it. Use the article as the basis of a debate about steroid use.

Use the search box below to perform a Google search within any of the specifc sites or general domains mentioned in this Activities section.

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