Steroids in Professional SportsSports are one of the most popular forms of entertainment we have today. Whether it's football, basketball, soccer, baseball, etc., fans are willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money to watch sports. There are few problems in the world of sport. But there is one problem that stands out, that of steroids. Although steroids can increase strength, endurance, and athleticism, they are incredibly harmful to your body and should never be used. However, some athletes persist in taking them, knowing that these substances provide a physical advantage. While this is true, steroids can cause serious physical and psychological side effects. Steroids are simply a derivative of the natural male anabolic hormone testosterone (“Anabolic”). Testosterone naturally triggers the maturation of the male reproductive system during puberty, which includes hair growth and deepening of the voice. The hormone helps the body retain protein, which promotes muscle development (“Anabolic”). “While there are many types of steroids with varying degrees of anabolic and androgenic properties, it is the anabolic property of steroids that attracts athletes,” says Dr. Wadler. “They take them mainly to increase muscle mass and strength” (“Anabolic”). Basically, a steroid simply makes muscles grow faster than conventional training. So, if steroids are so harmful to the body, why do athletes insist on taking them? In a world where athletes are getting bigger, stronger and faster, there is constant competition for spots in programs. Although some athletes still compete for the “love of the game,” the primary motivation in professional sports is money. On an NFL roster, the minimum annual salary ...... middle of paper ...... mmingNetwork, nd Web. March 20, 2014. Bloom, Barry. “MLB and union agree to stricter drug policy.” Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball, nd Web. March 29, 2014. DeNoon, Daniel J. “Why Steroids Are Bad for You.” WebMD. WebMD, 2005.Web. March 29, 2014.Goldin, Danny. “What do professional athletes earn? » What do professional athletes earn? Careerbuilder.com, September 21, 2010. Web. March 30, 2014. “Fast Facts on Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports.” » CNN. Cable News Network, March 6, 2014. Web. March 29, 2014. Sandritter, Mark. "NFL Practice Squad: Salary, Rules and Eligibility -SBNation.com." SBNation.com. Np, August 31, 2013. Web. March 30, 2014. Smith, Chris. “Why it’s time to legalize steroids in professional sports.” Forbes.com. Forbes, August 24, 2012. Web. March 21, 2014. “Steroids in sport.” Drugfreesport.com. Drug Free Sport, March 29, 2014. Web. March 29. 2014.