Steroids should remain illegal because they physically deteriorate the whole body system. In women steroids contribute to the growth of facial hair, enlargements of the clitoris, shrinkage of the uterus, sterility, deepening of the voice, decrease in breast size and irregularity of the menstrual cycle (Meer 61). In men steroids cause shrinkage of the testicles, decreases in sperm count, sterility, impotence, prostate enlargement and growth of female breast. In both men and women hair loss, liver ailments, acne, and cancer are very common. The side effects and reactions from the usage of anabolic steroids are endless. Along with the physical problems, there are also mental reactions associated with the usage of steroids. This drug becomes very addictive and damaging to the mind. It causes violent episodes, which an athlete can claim, a legal insanity defense as Jonathan Harris reports in his book Drugged Athletes. Research has also discovered that steroids cause psychotic side effects sometimes referred to as "roid rage". Overall, the usage of steroids is very damaging to the human body. Although it physically builds up the body for better performance, the risks of usage are enormous. Steroids physically deteriorate and mentally destroy the body. The use of steroids provides an unfair advantage to non-user athletes and therefore should remain illegal for non-medical use. Drugs in sports can cost a player his or her scholarship(s) and more seriously, their lives. Drug testing of athletes needs to become more effective to clamp down on supplement use. A recent clinical survey taken on the drug testing policies in colleges shows that out of two hundred and forty-five schools, only twenty-nine percent of those schools reported drug testing (Bamberger 63). With all the new drugs out on the market it is virtually impossible to have tests that can identify all the different drugs. Athletes have come up with new ways to escape positive testing.
