performance enhancing drugs in sports
Maxs Newberry English 101 Instructor: Lynne Lerych October 24, 2003 Essay Draft #1 Performance-Enhancing Drugs In Sports Humans are a naturally competitive species. As long as we have had sports to compete in, athletes have tried all kinds of things to be the best. ... Unfortunately some of these feats have been achieved using performance-enhancing drugs to prevail. Certain athletes are using drugs to increase strength, improve stamina, and build muscles. This is known as doping (using artificial substances or methods to enhance athletic performance). Doping may lead to a great career in sports, but it can also lead to a loss of career, mind, and/or body. Athletes have used various substances and potions to improve athletic performance since the beginning of civilization. ... However, some want to take the shortcut and use drugs, even if this creates possible risks to their health and careers. ... According to Arnold Schwarzenneger, the main reason that athletes take drugs is “because they know their competition is taking them and they don’t want to give away an advantage” (Schwarzenneger). An athlete may have several reasons for using performance-enhancing drugs. ... The most common drugs used to build muscle mass and strength are anabolic steroids. ... It is obvious that the long-term effects, of these drugs, leave a dent in your health. In addition to drugs that build mass and strength, some athletes take drugs to increase the amount of oxygen in tissues.