Viral messages are spanning the globe as the word leaks out that Manyn Ramirez has been suspended for fifty games and fined 8 million dollars, following positive tests for a banned substance. For all who thought this baseball player was incredible and amazing, the feeling is now that his record is forever ainted. With baseball being a statistic driven sport, player like A-Rod and Manny now add to the roster of players who distort the reality of baseball accomplishments.
Allegations of drug use have followed Manny briefly and intermittently throughout his career, but it was players like A-Rod and Bonds who clearly had such hypertrophic muscle growth, that were the obvious targets of suspicion. Manny also tended to wear slightly baggy jerseys, so his defined muscularity was not always obvious. The dangers of anabolic steroid use and human growth hormone are known. Mood swings, acne, excessive sweating, decreased sperm and down the road, the possible development of cancer are strong possibilities. Unfortunately since these athletic stars are the models and mentors that young athletes look up to, it is evident that the temptation to take drugs to be just like them is huge, even while knowing the physical dangers. In Manny's case, 8 million dollars and no play for fifty games should give him some pause.
A recently released book suggests that A-Rod has been using drugs to enhance his muscles and athletic prowess since high school, though his personal admission only confirms use for a short period of time during his adult career. The question now remains what was Manny using and for how long? Cyclical use of steroids can also include use of female fertility drugs, and in the case of Manny, that is what seemed to show up. Can baseball and professional sports continue to allow these kinds of revelations, or do we need to have established and regular screening and testing so that the temptation to try and get away with drug use finally begins to disappear? What will it take for athletes to begin to smarten up??
0 comments:
Post a Comment