"Andro! Hey, it's not illegal." So said Mark Maguire, Sammy Sosa and a host of other major league baseball players, some retired, who were openly using
drug Androstenedione into 21st century. There was a Canadian sprinter not many years ago who was stripped of his gold medal in Olympics for having used performance enhancing drugs. Over past 30 years or so there have been many Olympic medal winners stripped of their medals for drug use and abuse. It's not illegal. I feel better when I use it. I don't get so tired in a double-header. I feel better after a good night's sleep. But bottom line is "It's not illegal!" Or it wasn't. It is now, in 2005. Should it be? Should other performance enhancing drugs be illegal? We really don't have all genetic evidence in yet. Do performance enhancers, and especially anabolic steroids, have long-term deleterious genetic effects? We may not know for another 10-20-30 or more years? We may never know for sure? But evidence of playing with chemicals is in, and there may be evidence to at least suggest (see artificial sweeteners) possibility of genetic changes from prolonged use.
So just what are major Performance Enhancers and what they do, good and bad. Here are a few (following statistics from Mayo Clinic):
Creatine. Typical drug of choice for many high school athletes. Over-the-counter supplement best known for improving performance in sports involving short bursts of high-intensity activity such as power lifting, wrestling and sprinting. Side effects include stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and muscle cramps. High doses may be associated with kidney, liver or heart problems. Serious dehydration may occur from redirection of body's water to muscles. Possible leading cause of death of a young and promising professional baseball player in 2004.
Androstenedione (andro). Proponents claim it boosts testosterone production, which in turn increases muscle mass, energy and strength. In reality, andro doesn't do any of that. The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 classified andro as a controlled substance, adding it to list of banned anabolic steroids and making its use illegal. In males it can actually decrease production of testosterone while increasing production of estrogen. Side effects include acne, diminished sperm production, shrinking of testicles and enlargement of breasts. In females side effects include acne and masculinization, such as deepening of voice and male-pattern baldness. Andro might also stunt a child's growth.
Ephedra. Ephedra is a plant that contains chemical ephedrine, a stimulant similar to amphetamines. Athletes may take an over-the-counter supplement containing ephedra to reduce physical fatigue, lose weight or improve mental alertness. In December 2003 FDA announced ban of ephedra because of health concerns. Also known as ma-huang, popotillo and ephedrae herba, ephedra can cause such side effects as strokes, seizures and heart attacks. Ephedra can raise blood sugar and cause an irregular heart rhythm. Long-term use can lead to addiction. Check labels of sports energy drinks or energy bars. They may include ephedra.
