The author, Bradley Sinko, has presented factual evidence and various real-life examples to argue that steroid use is a topic that needs to be taken more seriously, through stricter regulations in sports, to prevent steroid use, maintain the integrity of sports and keep athletes healthy. The author states that sports leagues give inadequate punishments for steroid use, especially considering the drastic measures to keep the sports league fair in other aspects. For instance, the MLB has banned Pete Rose, one of the greatest baseball players of all time, from the hall of fame as a result of placing bets on games involving his team. However, in the case of Rafael Palmiero, when he was caught using steroids, he was given a light 10-game suspension and will still likely be inducted into the hall of fame. …show more content…
It is argued that these light punishments as well as a lack of steroid use investigation provides athletes the opportunity to use steroids and ‘get away with it,’ thus motivating them to take these performance enhancing drugs. The author exemplifies Marion Jones, a female athlete who used steroids to win 5 medals in track and field, in order to argue that steroids ruin the equity of professional sports. The author also presents the numerous health risks associated with steroid use; namely heart disease, liver damage, cancer as well as reduced sperm count in males and menstrual problems in females, to argue that steroid use needs to be more heavily punished to prevent steroid use and ultimately keep the athlete healthy. With this, the author has concluded that steroid use is a serious topic that needs better rules and regulations to prevent its use in sports, which will keep sports fair and lessen early sicknesses and deaths in its