The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how an ergogenic aid, such as steroids, affects athletic performance, differs from the human growth hormone, medical risks and how it pertains to exercise science. With many ergogenic aids available through over the counter access or by prescription, with current standards in regard to physical appearance and sports competition, it has driven many consumers and professional athletes to purchase performance-enhancing drugs underground, but at what cost.
An ergogenic aid is a supplement; primarily dietary that increases an athlete’s ability to perform and overall strength while the delivery can be ingested orally, injected directly into muscle tissue or topically in a lotion or gel form (NIDA, 2012). Over the years there has been an increase of controversy surrounding what is deemed as an illegal ergogenic aid and what is an acceptable norm. This spectrum has created a slippery slope when it comes down to what as an acceptable dosage and what is morally right. Many athletes over decades have sought out doctors that will prescribe sports enhancing drugs to improve their career …show more content…
The forms that they come in are well accepted and advertised by professional athletes such as sport energy drinks, supplements and snack bars. There is a lot of smoke and mirrors when advertising a dietary aid. Advertisers will recruit those heavily seen in the public while presenting a multimillion-dollar endorsement because the consumer wants the instant results and does not have time to read the fine print. When it comes down to it, the athlete must stand accountably for their actions, “lead to disqualification in their sport even if they were unaware that the supplement was contaminated, ergogenic aids are unregulated, they may contain banned substances not disclosed on the product label” (Brown-Riggs, 2013, p.