While this article had some accurately researched information, parts of it sadly perpetuated the myths and misconceptions surrounding male hormones. The unethical practice of using steroids to cheat in sports should, of course, be condemned. However, claiming that the use of testosterone (including as a gel) will "always be dangerous" is contradicted by a large and growing body of medical research. Recent studies have found that testsoterone replacement in middle-aged men -- even at supraphysiologic levels -- is a safe and effective way to restore youthful vigor, libido and body composition. Articles like this that imply otherwise are dreadfully behind the curve.
Rick Collins, JD Author of LEGAL MUSCLE: ANABOLICS IN AMERICA
``And, while each type of steroid used exerts its peculiar effects in the body, athletes almost, as a norm, use those with chemical structures akin to the chief male hormone, testosterone.'' There aren't any steroids that are not related to testosterone. All steroids are derivatives/metabolites of testosterone. So there is no question of athletes chooing those ``with chemical structures akin to the chief male hormone, testosterone.''
When a sportsperson charged of taking drug on the basis of the tests, denies having taken any drug, it is not simply refuting the charge but he may be telling the truth. The reliability of the test itself is not beyond doubt considering the psychosomatic aspect. According to this whenever any sportsperson is obsessed with the idea of winning championship or retaining it if he is already a champion, certain glands in his body, under the command from his brain must be producing such chemicals, which when mixed with blood, must be enabling the sportsperson to perform beyond his normal capacity. In this case the test is likely to show the same results as when he actually takes the drug externally and the conclusion will be wrong. Similar phenomena of enhanced performance are found in the field of Politics. The motivation to retain high power position produces a neuro-transmitter chemical called Serotonin in the brain which enables politicians to put up with any number of hardships, gives them speed and vigor and also a kind of glow on their physique. The recent study on this, cites examples of Narsimhrao, Ronald Regan and Rabri Devi. They may test "positive" without taking drug.
The article on "Making of the chemical athlete" is highly praiseworthy. It shows the in-depth analysis of the writer on this subject, giving us an insight on the medical aspects of drug abuse among the athletes.
The sportsmanship has lost somewhere.Just "participation" is looked down upon by people and "winning" is the in thing today. This has resulted in doping...
The drive to win is becoming so strong that the participants do not even pay heed to their health.
The ill-effects of doping is very scary...
Hope that the athletes find it scary too...and start taking "sports" in a sportive way.
It is a very informative article with a subtle view point!! It is for the readers to derive the best either as a juice or a pulp, as they prefer!! Good to have been educated on the intricacies of drugs than using the name in generic terms!! Keep this up!!
I think this article is written badly, I am not sure what the author is trying to say. The author seems to have done a lot of research, but has not projected it in easy to read manner. An article should in addition to displaying facts in a methodical manner, should also lean towards a Point of view, an opinion. We don't expect to read a manual here, but a point of view