More Drugs in Sports

A friend of mine who is an ATC at a high school in New Jersey sent me the above and asked me to comment on. He had just attended a drug seminar where drugs in high school sports were the topic.

”According to the panel members, the parents seem to be encouraging the abuse. One of the MD's who treats these problems says parents come in complaining their kid is growing tits or his nuts are shrinking. But they don't want the kids to stop, they want to know what drugs to take to prevent the side effects!

The resounding opinion on what to do about this was testing. Private funding for the testing is already being looked into. The education only advocates were definitely in the minority. “

According to him it is an especially prevalent problem in the more affluent districts. That certainly makes sense, sense these are the same parents who would anything to gain an edge for their sons or daughters in the admission process to colleges.

First of all performance enhancing drugs are a huge problem at every level of sport today. Anyone who thinks otherwise is incredibly naïve. To me there is a clear division between those who do and those who don’t. This extends to coaches and therapists. I made the choice years ago not allow my athletes to use drugs. I know coaches and administrators who take the attitude that if they do not know about it, it does not exist. Let face facts some of the athletic icons of our society are under great suspicion. I watched a record being broken last year where I know the athlete was “legally” doped. It makes me sick. One thing I know testing is not the answer. There are guys all over the US hanging around gyms that know more than the people who are doing the testing. Save the money. Sure education is the answer, but what kind of education? The scare stories about shrunken testicles does not work, the youngster or the seasoned pro knows it won’t happen to them. The answer is pretty idealistic. Lets make it an ethical issue. It is flat out cheating. Those athletes who are doping and those coaches who condone it are living a lie. Sure they are getting scholarships and some are making millions, so what? At the end of the day you have to live with yourself. I vowed after some recent experiences to be even more outspoken about the problem with performance enhancing drugs in sports. I am not sure how much good it will do, but I will keep trying. We need to make the druggies uncomfortable!!!