Posts Tagged Steroid Abuse

Verdict In for Barry Bonds: Guilty of Obstruction of Justice

Posted by Drug Free in Steroid Abuse on April 14th, 2011

Yes, the judicial system has finally bestowed a ruling upon one of baseball’s most controversial players, Barry Bonds. On Wednesday, the jury convicted Bonds for obstruction of justice when he swore he did not know performance-enhancing drugs were introduced into his system at the time when he was at his career’s peak.

Barry BondsBonds’ records in baseball has put him as the league’s all-time home-run leader; hitting 762 home runs in the course of his 22-year career in the game with a whopping 73 in 2001. While some may be in awe of what he accomplished, it somehow put others in doubt resulting to a validation of what he has achieved ultimately leading him into court.

The obstruction of justice was the strongest case against him, among the other charges filed such as the three counts of perjury. According to a feature on Yahoo Sports, the jury decided he intentionally misled people when he said his trainer never injected him with any performance-enhancing drugs (saying that the only person to inject him with anything is his doctor) and tried to convince them that he is a victim of some scientific experiments. He added that the ambitious people who held his career at that time were the ones to be blamed for what he has been through.

The verdict on Bonds brings us to the question of what this development can do for both the league and the government agencies involved. Eight years ago, Bonds testified he never used any drug to help him beat out competition, at least not on his knowledge. Today, he is convicted, yet we get the same stories over and over again.

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Santana Moss and His Connection with Dr. Anthony Galea

Posted by Drug Free in Steroid Abuse on May 27th, 2010

The fact that Santana Moss was dragged into the controversy surrounding Dr. Anthony Galea has some people wondering: did the Washington Redskins wide receiver get human growth hormone from the Toronto sports doctor or not?

He is, after all, not the only sports star whose name is being dragged into this affair. Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran have all been treated by Dr. Galea. “Treated with what?” is a question that remains to be answered.

Santana MossAccording to a report on the New York Daily News, Dr. Galea was on his way to Washington in order to treat Moss when his assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, was nabbed at the Peace Bridge border crossing in Buffalo. Galea is now being accused of unlawful distribution of HGH and smuggling, among other criminal charges. If convicted, Dr. Galea may have up to 20 years in an American prison.

HGH is banned by the NFL, although it does not test for it. There is speculation that Moss may face disciplinary action for using banned substances due to the issue, but a feature on KansasCity.com shares that Coach Mike Shanahan is said to be confident that Moss will not be disciplined.

Fellow Washington Redskins athlete Phillip Daniels said that Moss shared that he was undergoing treatments under Dr. Galea’s care, and the treatments were described as routine and did not have anything to do with banned substances.

Coach Shanahan said: “I sat down and talked to Santana today and went through a bunch of situations that have happened to him, and I feel really good about where he’s at. I feel real good that he’ll be, I don’t know if ‘vindicated’ is the word, but when people find out all the facts, everything will be OK.”

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Steroids: Why It’s Just Not Worth It

Posted by Drug Free in Steroid Abuse on February 8th, 2010

Steroid use is a rampant threat that hovers above the head of many athletes nowadays. Known to elicit fast results, steroids have been used by athletes to enhance performance, improve body physique, and boost recovery. Sure, it does sound very enticing. Who wouldn’t want an easy way to a better you or me, right?

steroidsThe truth about what steroids use does for you is this: it speeds up your own body in a pace where you can’t keep up. Eventually your body gives in, showing side effects that aren’t really worth it. Steroids only enhance physical performance in a short-term. Shooting up will give you up to a few years of great physical performance, but it will eventually leave you with complications that are very costly, ranging from a depressed immune system to a failed liver or kidney.

Being an athlete means you always will yourself to train harder, move faster and be better at what you do. You can’t really escape the fact that most of the athletes out there try their very hardest to do more than what they can already do. Baseball players want to get more home runs, track runners want a faster finish; all of the athletes want to be better and that’s pretty normal. What’s not normal is when they use performance-enhancing drugs to improve athletic performance, at the expense of their body. They shoot up; putting their careers, credibility and honor as athletes on the line for a quick remedy – that’s definitely not normal or even wise.

Taking steroids is taking the easy way, and sometimes, the more costly way to the finish line. It is important to remember that the reason great athletes are the way they are is because of good old-fashioned hard-work and discipline, and not because of any needle or pill.

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How to Spot a Steroid Abuser

Posted by Drug Free in Steroid Abuse on February 7th, 2010

Using anabolic steroids is a dangerous and misguided measure to tap into the body’s potential. If your relative or friend is an athlete, it is wise to be knowledgeable about the dangers of steroid abuse. Do not take steroid use lightly; it is extremely risky and may cause severe damages to one’s body, and in some cases, even death. Watch out for these most common signs that indicate steroid abuse.

steroid abusePhysical changes are the most obvious and easy to spot signs, especially when dealing with novice users. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin due to the damage to one’s liver, is an indication of abusive steroid use. Due to the steroid’s effect on a person’s hormones, gynocomastia, or an uncharacteristic excessive development of breast tissue in males, is also a clear sign to watch out for.

Other obvious physical changes are acne formations, persistent bad breath, excessive hair loss, skin infections such as abscesses and cysts, rapid or progressive weight gain, abnormal muscle growth, hyperactivity and discoloration or blood in urine.

Be wary of personality and psychological changes that happen out of the blue. Mood swings and increased aggression or irritability is a common sign of steroid use. Because of the irregularity of the hormones in the body, users have been known to become disrespectful or abusive, either verbally or physically to authority or peers, causing severe spurts of anger or lashing out. More severe mental illnesses on record are hallucinations, paranoia and depression.

If ever these signs and symptoms are evident to someone you know, never hesitate to exercise your responsibility as a friend or relative to try to prevent any more harm.

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No Magic Pill Needed to Enhance Sports Performance

Posted by Drug Free in Steroid Abuse on December 18th, 2009

Many teen athletes seem to believe that “bigger, stronger, faster” is the way to go. Many think that these are the key factors that separate the star players from the bench warmers. Add this to the fact that most well-established athletes actually make good money, as sportsmen and as celebrities, you end up with more teenagers simply trying to look like the action heroes or wrestling superstars they see on magazines.

Teenagers, being in the time of their lives when they start wanting everything, try the one thing most people actually try to do during puberty — make time go faster.

college footballTeenagers engaged in sports or have started body composition training want the results to be seen in the shortest possible time. However, growing one’s physique is an intricate process in which the whole system should participate in. Becoming leaner means improving metabolism, and improved metabolism actually assists the body in assimilating the proper nutrients to be transported to the different body parts.

To absorb the optimum amount of nutrients, one would need the right amount of the right food at the right time. Yes, TIME is exactly what is needed by the body to process all these improvements to be translated into better body composition, and the time needed by your bodies should be spent by infusing a particular catalyst: exercise. Many teenagers try to find a “magic pill” or a “secret recipe” for achieving the results they want while skipping the entire natural process.

Teenagers should know and understand that their adolescent years provide their bodies the perfect environment for muscular growth. They are at a point in their lives wherein their levels of testosterone (growth hormones of the body) are at its peak. If they spend this time exercising regularly at the right pace and intensity, they already have their own personal and all-natural steroids working for them.

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