Major League......Enhanced

      Eric Cogovan

      When many people picture the game of baseball they imagine the players, the field, and maybe the food you buy at the games. Not many people think about steroids when they imagine baseball, but as of recently steroid use in baseball is becoming a commonly known affiliation with the ever popular sport. Now that this issue is becoming more vocalized it has to make us think how badly this can effect the young children who look up to these professional athletes who are involved in this steroid use.

       Professional baseball players using steroids first came into the lime light in the summer of 2003 when the USADA first traced a liquid steroid to prevalent members of the professional baseball organization. This steroid was traced back to a member of the BALCO labs. After this steroid was traced to this lab it came to be found that Barry Bonds a popular baseball player was one of the labs biggest clients. This lab is a major lab which is in the development of steroids.

       After this news was reported it began a spiral of more media attention that focused on a number of other players being investigated about there possible steroid use. In 2004 steroid testing began under the MLB's new bargaining agreement. After this several athletes have been linked to the BALCO lab and steroid use. Over the years many members of the major leagues have been found to be using steroids and have since apologized. Although many athletes have apologized for their steroid use and have since quit there usage a number of players have still been accused to this day and still deny their use, but a number of athletes are still failing drug tests and continue their use of steroids.

       Baseball has been often also criticized for their way to penalize these members of baseball who are caught using steroids. Stiffer penalties are needed in order to end the use of steroids in such a popular sport. Not only are the players and families being harmed by their steroid use it also is effecting fans and children who look up to these professional athletes.

       Another aspect of players who are using steroids is the effect it has on the players who are not using steroids to improve how they play. These athletes are at an unfair advantage. The players who are using steroids are performing better then them but in an illegal and unfair way. Players who do not use steroids are often benched or even fired from the team because their abilities are lacking in comparison to players who are using performance enhancing drugs. There is an unfair competition between players because some choose to use illegal drugs to get better while others choose to stay clean and work off of their natural abilities.

Overall steroid use in Major League Baseball is harmful to a number of people. It is harmful to the players who choose to use them, players who choose not too, fans, and the families of those players who use steroids. Especially when steroid use becomes deadly. Ken Caminiti died due to his steroid use and now his family has to suffer the consequences because of his actions. Steroid use needs to be taken more seriously to ensure a fair played game and also a safe played game at that.

http://www.steroidsinbaseball.org/

http://www.articlespan.com/article/6641/why-steroids-are-bad-for-major-league-baseball