Tony Thompson provides arguments pro legalization of doping

Anabolic steroids are widely administered around the world. While several individuals use these medications in order to treat several illnesses, others apply them in order to induce increasing muscle mass, add energy, decrease fat deposits, etc. Of course, no one will be ever capable to contest positive effects which can be reached with the help of these medicines. But it is necessary to take into account that steroids cause adverse consequences along with benefits. That’s why those that plan to use these products should study possible dangers before they begin to use these preparations.
Knowing about potential risks, you can find certain methods in order to avoid or decrease them. Those who have ever taken steroids know that some of them convert into estrogen in the body, causing such undesirable reactions, as fluid retention, gynecomastia, fat accumulation, etc. Anti-estrogen products can prevent or at least to reduce severity of these health problems. Anabolic-androgenic steroids also suppress natural production of testosterone. Fortunately, there are some remedies which are capable to restore this process.
Besides of products, there are also other ways to avoid or reduce negative reactions. Dosages should be reduced; cycles must not be long; proper stacks should be chosen, etc.
While several unwanted results of steroids are evident, others can be detected just with the help of lab tests. So, steroids may enhance hematrocrit levels. This undesirable reaction is quite dangerous. Elevated hematocrit levels cause other severe unwanted reactions. Individuals with this problem may face illnesses of cardiovascular system and disorders linked with blood circulation. Even heart attack and death may result from high hematocrit levels. That’s why it is necessary to check hematocrit levels while applying anabolic-androgenic steroids.
If a steroid user finds out that he/she has elevated hematocrit levels, this individual should consult his/her treating doctor. Administration of steroids must be discontinued. Physicians prescribe preparations for reduction of hematocrit levels. Thus, hematocrit levels should return to their normal levels. Otherwise, further complications will occur.
Hematocrit levels should be kept within normal range. There are certain simple rules that should be kept by sportspersons for this purpose. Those who train intensively should drink much water. Furthermore, it is recommended consuming grapefruit. It is stated that this fruit contains a substance which is able to reduce elevated hematocrit levels.
In case you want to avoid having elevated hematocrit levels, don’t use steroids!

Hematocrit levels should be checked during steroid use

The boxer Tony Thompson claims that anabolic steroids and other doping products should be legalized in boxing. The sportsman thinks that anti-doping laws and gun laws are identical. Who keeps gun laws? Just good guys do it. As a result, good guys are at a disadvantage. So, the similar situation is linked with anti-doping laws. Just honest athletes don’t apply steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs. Thus, they fight with those who have increased their performance with the help of steroids and other related drugs.
It is argued that anabolic steroids are forbidden in sports because they are dangerous. What would you believe about boxing in itself? Isn’t boxing dangerous? The answer is evident.
But it is also stated that it is necessary to ban anabolic steroids and other related medicines in order to make boxing safer. Steroids and other doping products enhance performance. The more enhanced performance is, the more dangerous rounds are. Although it is true, would you prohibit anything that promotes performance of boxers? So, you prohibit steroids because they enhance performance. Then prohibit workouts as well since they enhance performance too! So, you will reduce performance while minimizing potential risks. What do you think about this aspect?
Tony Thompson also adds that detection tests are not effective at all. While numerous athletes use banned preparations, just some of them are caught and sentenced to suspensions. So, dopers have unfair advantage over those who obey anti-doping rules. Where is fairness? Where is logic?
Of course, arguments provided by Tony Thompson are reasonable. Anti-doping rules make matches more unfair. Moreover, the prohibition of doping doesn’t make matches safer. Many boxers continue to use anabolic steroids and/or other forbidden medicines without being caught. They continue to fight and succeed with the help of doping, while good guys are at a disadvantage because they don’t break anti-doping laws.
Thus, if doping is legalized in boxing, matches will be more honest. Undoubtedly, they will remain unsafe. But they will be at least fair.
Tony Thompson has been harshly criticized for his statements pro legalization of doping in boxing.

Anti-doping agencies can’t eliminate steroid use

Steroids are regularly taken by sportspeople, bodybuilders and by ordinary individuals. Since these drugs are forbidden in sports, doping scandals are reported daily. Other remedies are taken along with steroids. Many sportspersons are inclined to use heroin. You would possibly wonder why heroin is applied in sports. It is suggested that heroin is used by sportspersons for relief of pain.
Studying history of doping in sports, you can see that sportspersons are ready to take numerous strange things, if these remedies are capable to increase muscle mass, ban fat, add energy, speed recovery from injuries and relieve pains. Gorgets and pickle juice are only some remedies that are utilized along with anabolic-androgenic steroids.
Doping is not a new factor in sports. Sportspersons dope from ancient times. They try to introduce new remedies that can help them to achieve some goals through increase of performance. It is frequently stated that sports are good for health. Athletes and bodybuilders are usually viewed as healthy individuals. But it is a wrong opinion. Sports are connected with some dangers for health. Athletes push their bodies till limits. They administer several dangerous remedies which promote their succeeding, acquiring awards and earning money. Although some athletes reach excellent results linked with prizes, they ruin their health significantly. Some athletes and bodybuilders even use such medications which threaten to life. They do it in the name of physical performance and success in sports.
Although new remedies for enhancement of performance are elaborated, you probably notice that the most of scandals are linked with anabolic steroids and growth hormones. While some preparations appear and disappear quickly, anabolic steroids are unlikely to disappear. However anti-doping officers try to eradicate application of steroids from sports, their efforts turn out to be unsuccessful. While anti-doping agencies introduce more effectual tests for detection of anabolic steroids and other related medicines, athletes and bodybuilders find more sophisticated methods to dope and avoid detection. So, many athletes dope while not being caught by anti-doping officers. Nobody can contest that steroids and several other performance-enhancing drugs are widely administered in sports and bodybuilding. Administration of steroids is unlikely to be eliminated from sports.

Reeva Steenkamp was murdered by Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius admitted that he had killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. But the athlete stated that he had shot her because he had mistaken her for  a burglar.
Police officers try to determine why the sportsman really shot Reeva Steenkamp. They discovered anabolic steroids at his home.
Since anabolic steroids have been discovered in Oscar’s bedroom, it would be possibly stated that anabolic steroids caused uncontrolled violent behavior in the sportsman. Steroids would be blamed for the murder.
In fact, you should recognize that it is quite hardly to state that steroids are responsible for aggression and violent behavior. Studies connected with this issue are quite limited. According to results of several studies, steroid users are predisposed to aggression, paranoia, jealousy, etc. It is claimed that those that use anabolic steroids are more likely to be involved in crimes than those that have nothing to do with these medicines. But it is necessary to take in consideration that steroids may only contribute to aggression. Only these medications alone can’t lead to aggression. They turn out to be just factors that contribute into uncontrolled aggression. Other factors should be also present for appearing of aggression. Circumstances play great role in such situations. So, it is even impossible to determine whether steroids cause aggression or certain circumstances. Violent cases should be viewed as a complex of steroid use and circumstances.
It is also claimed by experts that high testosterone levels are connected with aggression in some persons. So, it is important to underline here that while several individuals with elevated testosterone levels experience aggression, others with enhanced levels of testosterone are not predisposed to uncontrolled violence. This condition differs from one person to another.
You can see that the connection between usage of steroids and violence is a complicated issue. Specialists have not studied this condition well enough to engage it. So, if defense lawyers of the Olympic athlete want to argue that anabolic steroids have made their client to kill his girlfriend, they should realize that they are going to utilize controversial affirmations.

Pharmaceutical companies provide information to anti-doping agencies

Nowadays many drug manufacturers are ready to cooperate with anti-doping agencies in their fight against usage of banned medications in sports. It sounds strange but this is the reality. In fact, if you review the fate of EPO, you can comprehend why pharmaceutical companies agree to support efforts of anti-doping officials. EPO is actually an effective remedy for treatment of anemia. A lot of individuals with anemia that have applied EPO have been treated. But what do you think while hearing about this medication? Almost any individual associates this remedy just with doping in sports. This product has been abused by Lance Armstrong that has cheated the whole world. Thus, EPO is associated just with lying, shame, etc. Looking at this condition, drug manufacturers try to “defend” their drugs from the similar fate. That’s why they cooperate with anti-doping officials.
However some drug manufacturers began to collaborate with anti-doping officials earlier, sometimes there were several problems between them. Anti-doping agencies criticized several pharmaceutical companies for their connections with doping.
Nowadays relations between anti-doping officials and drug manufacturers are better. Drug manufacturers share detailed information about new medications with anti-doping officials. It is valuable information for development of detection tests for these drugs. While anti-doping agencies find out how drugs are manufactured, how they pass into body, how they work in the body, they can introduce more effectual tests for these medicines.
For example, the drug manufacturer Roche that introduced the drug CERA helped anti-doping officers to develop a detection test for it. Later other drug manufacturers followed the example of Roche. The drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline went so far, as it sponsored an anti-doping lab during the 2012 Olympics.
While relations between anti-doping officials and big pharmaceutical companies become stronger, smaller pharmaceutical companies started to cooperate with anti-doping officials too. While previously drug manufacturers haven’t wanted to discuss about their links to anti-doping officers publicly, nowadays they don’t fear to announce about this condition.

It is not needed to subject athletes to anti-doping tests

It is not necessary to subject athletes to tests for doping substances. Many cases manifest that tests for forbidden medicines are not efficacious. Furthermore, it is important to realize that application of tests by anti-doping agencies is not logical at Olympics. The main purpose of Olympic sportspersons is following: to become faster, stronger and to be at the highest level. So, why should you keep sportspeople far from drugs which could help them to achieve this result?
As you know, steroids and other related drugs boost performance. Thus, sportspeople should be allowed to use these remedies in order to increase physical performance.
Numerous persons claim that anabolic steroids and other doping products make competitions unfair. Is this point of view true? No, it wrong. You should comprehend that tests for anabolic steroids and other related medicines make competitions unfair. Many sportspersons administer performance-enhancing drugs while avoiding detection. Thus, some athletes apply steroids; others don’t violate anti-doping rules. As a result, users of doping products have unfair advantage over non-dopers. It’s unfair. Let all sportspersons have similar access to performance-enhancing drugs. Thus, competitions will be fairer.
But debating about unfairness in sports, you should remember about other aspects that have more essential influence of fairness/unfairness than anabolic steroids and other related products. Several athletes live in developed countries; others are in less developed countries. Certain sportspersons have money to purchase necessary equipment; others can’t afford it. Some countries can sponsor sportspersons, coaches, sport doctors and managers; others are not capable to do it. Thus, unfairness should be discussed here.
Olympic sportspersons spend much time while training. They sacrifice time, money, etc. That’s why it is illogical to suspend those that are caught using anabolic steroids and other doping products.
While sportspeople are sentenced to suspensions for application of anabolic steroids and certain other chemical substances, they are never banned for application of herbs and certain potions. It is stated that anabolic steroids and other chemical substances are suspended in sports because they can enhance physical performance. But what is for herbs and potions? They are also capable to boost energy. Nevertheless, these remedies are not prohibited in sports.  Chinese athletes use herbal remedies and win.
Of course, you may argue that steroids and certain other medicines may result in serious negative effects. Undoubtedly, certain forbidden medicines may cause serious health problems. But those who intend to take these preparations do own research. They are aware of probable dangers. Let athletes decide whether it is worthy to administer such medications. If they are ready to worsen health, let them do it because they should manage own bodies.

Black market is primary source of all doping products

David Howman, the CEO of the WADA, considers that China is the chief source of raw materials used by underground labs for manufacture of anabolic steroids, HGH and other related drugs. Raw powders are shipped from this country. Then underground labs produce illegal products which are offered for sale by dealers at gyms and on the streets.
The black market of steroids controls sales of illegal medicines on the white market. The black market turns out to be the source of drugs that are available on the white market. It is believed that almost all products which are sold have been initially obtained from underground labs which have utilized raw materials from China.
Top athletes are often demonized for application of steroids and other related preparations. Since steroid scandals appear daily, many individuals believe that steroids and other doping products are mainly administered by top sportspersons. But it is important to mention that this a wrong opinion. Some specialists have defined that steroids and other related medicines are more widely used by high school students and aged individuals that try to improve their appearance. While students want to increase muscles with the help of steroids and some other illegal drugs, aged individuals try to add strength and lower fat deposits with the help of these drugs.
Unfortunately, legal supplements often contain steroidal compounds. Companies include such ingredients intentionally. As a result, those that take just nutritional and/or sport supplements turn out to be dopers. According to David Howman, the director general of the WADA, it is important to supervise supplement industry in order to prevent appearing of supplements which contain illegal compounds.

It’s better to legalize doping in sports

What do you believe about legalization of doping in sports?  Several persons believe that it is time to legalize it. Others are against it. What do you think?
Those who are against legalization of doping in sports think that anabolic steroids and other related medicines represent essential evil. They may cause severe unwanted results in consumers. Furthermore, a doper has unfair advantage over a non-doper during competitions.
According to another opinion, administration of anabolic steroids and other doping products should be allowed in sports. Let sportspersons apply whatever they want! If they desire to administer steroids, let them do it! If they intend to use other medications, let them do it! If they want to use several drugs, let physicians supervise their application! Doctors know what their patients should do in order to avoid several undesirable effects. Thus, performance-enhancing drugs will not lead to serious side results. As a result, application of anabolic steroids and other related medications will be relatively safe for health and life of users.
As you know, anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are currently forbidden in sports. When sportspersons are suspected and/or found guilty of doping, scandals appear. Such situations are frequently discussed during TV shows, in magazines, newspapers, on internet, etc. You must know that each scandal usually contains not only truth but also gossips, exaggerations, etc. As a result, you can’t be sure whether several affirmations are true or not.
Those that are against legalization of doping in sports believe that sportspersons enhance performance unnaturally with the help of anabolic steroids and other related drugs. Speaking about enhancement of athletic performance, you should not forget about enhancement of sexual performance, cognitive skills, improvement of health, etc. Why do we use some drugs and supplements, improving our health and life, while demonizing sportspersons who try to promote performance with anabolic steroids and other doping products? Is it fairly? You would note that anabolic steroids and some other doping products lead to health problems. Yes, it is true. But what do you consider about usage of caffeine and nicotine? They are accepted in the society. But it is necessary to notice that caffeine and nicotine result in more serious health troubles than anabolic steroids and other related medicines. Nonetheless, consumers of caffeine and nicotine are not so harshly demonized, as consumers of steroids.
Anti-doping agencies hope that they will soon eradicate doping from sports. “Competitions will be fair”, - they exclaim. But it is needed to realize that doping will be never eliminated from sports. Anti-doping officials will not be ever able to do it. While they elaborate new methods of detection and increase penalties for intake of banned substances, sportspersons find new ways to avoid detection. So, anyone should understand that this conflict will never end, if doping is not permitted in sports.

Attitude towards performance-enhancing drugs and procedures

The reporter Dan Le Batard notices that it is necessary to think over our attitude to doping. Do we evaluate various athletes the same way? Do we accept application of steroids and other related medicines by sportspersons? What is our real attitude to sportspersons that apply steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs/procedures? Do we admire of those that have success in sports because of steroids and other related remedies?
Sometimes the society is guilty for doping of athletes. The society should be demonized for abnormal actions of sportspersons. The society admires of abnormal things that occur in sports. The society admires of those that have ligaments removed from cadavers. The society admires of sportspersons that are involved in various abnormal actions: competing with catheter, cutting fingers off, etc. Athletes do a lot to become prominent. They submit to various procedures which are not required for their health. Moreover, they use such drugs and procedures that ruin their health. Why do they do such things? The answer is obvious: they want to be praised; they desire to become prominent. So, they do it for physical performance. While sportspersons use remedies which result in serious harm in them, we support their behavior through our praise, awards, money, etc.
Actually, the society is hypocritical. While we are inclined to demonize steroids and some other banned drugs, we don’t condemn sportspersons that utilize various procedures for enhancement of their physical performance. While we blame some dopers, we praise others. Why are certain products and procedures forbidden for increase of performance, while others are allowed? Let be reasonable! If you demonize anabolic steroids, don’t support those that apply alternatives to these substances that are also capable to promote physical performance. If you desire to see natural talents of athletes, don’t praise those that submit to different procedures for increase of physical performance! Before you blame or praise someone/something, think over this aspect! Don’t hurry and be reasonable!

Anti-aging clinics appear to be related to doping scandals

Many anti-aging clinics are connected with doping scandals. It’s naturally because they supply sportspersons and bodybuilders with steroids and other related medications. When appropriate authorities raid anti-aging clinics and seize documents, they see that certain celebrated sport figures belong to clients of the clinics.
Recently some anti-aging clinics located in Miami were investigated. Feds determined that the clinics sold prescription drugs illegally. The clinics sold medications for enhancement of muscle mass, weight loss, increase of endurance, etc.
According to the newspaper the Miami New Times, the anti-aging clinic Biogenesis was found guilty of illegal sale of doping products. Furthermore, such well-known baseball players, as Alex Rodriquez and Melky Cabrera bought doping products at Biogenesis of America. So, the anti-aging clinic turned out to be linked with one of the biggest steroid scandals in the sport of baseball.
Medical records of Biogenesis were obtained from an employee of the clinic. The records were presented on the site of the newspaper Miami New Times. Reporters said that the employee who provided the records didn’t want to be identified.
It is reported that anabolic steroids, HGH, IGF-1 and other prescription medications are widely sold illegally by anti-aging clinics. Moreover, clinics hire doctors who provide fake prescriptions. Prescriptions for steroids and other related products are often given to clients without appropriate evaluation of their personal conditions. Furthermore, physicians supply clients with needed prescriptions even without seeing them. In additions to these aspects, several corrupt physicians permit anti-aging clinics to utilize their prescription pads. As a result, anti-aging clinics sell steroids, painkillers and other prescription medications illicitly, as if they worked legally.
When illicit operations of anti-aging clinics become obvious, owners of clinics, doctors and certain employees are sentenced to several sanctions. Nevertheless, the risk to get punishment doesn’t stop clinics from their illegal operations. However proper authorities try to eliminate illegal sale of prescription medications, their success is not yet significant.

Baseball will be soon “clean”

Although some individuals think that doping will be never eradicated from sports, you can come across more optimistic points of view linked with this issue.
Frank Thomas, a former MLB player notices that he has had success has in baseball without application of steroids and other related products. He is glad that he has never doped. Looking at Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, he is proud of his achievements in baseball. The baseball stars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have achieved great success. But now their achievements are removed. These sportspersons are considered to be cheaters. They haven’t been introduced into the Baseball Hall of Fame, despites of their success. Frank Thomas is glad about this aspect. He notes that dopers must never be in the Hall of Fame. Furthermore, Frank Thomas claims that he has played during the steroid era successfully without usage of forbidden products.
Frank Thomas notes that he has respected the successful baseball players Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  But since they have taken steroids and/or other banned drugs, Frank Thomas doesn’t consider them stars longer. However, he doesn’t have harsh words for them. But Frank Thomas thinks that application of performance-enhancing drugs is their decision and they have to suffer the consequences, being out of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have been tainted. Their accomplishments don’t cost anything because they are fake. Such persons shouldn’t be praised.
Frank Thomas thinks that the MLB acts correctly, agreeing to introduce blood testing for HGH. While baseball players have submitted to urine testing for HGH, they will also submit to blood testing for this banned medicine systematically. Thus, Frank Thomas claims that the drug testing program becomes more efficient in the MLB. He supposes that doping will be eliminated from this sport totally. Games will be soon fair, according to Frank Thomas.

Since doping is not permitted in sports, competitions are unfair

Numerous professional sportspersons acquired steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs from the Miami anti-aging clinic Biogenesis. The famous baseball stars Alex Rodriquez, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon also belonged to individuals that got anabolic steroids at this clinic.
What is unusual here? - Nothing. Steroids and other related medications are widely taken in baseball and in other sports. Sportspersons get these medicines at pharmacies, clinics, etc. A lot of anti-ageing clinics, pharmaceutical companies and other related establishments distribute steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs illegally. Biogenesis is not the only clinic that is involved in illegal actions related to anabolic steroids and other prescription drugs. Sportspersons find different ways to get anabolic steroids and other related drugs and apply them. Although anti-doping officials try to eliminate doping from sports, their efforts are not successful.
Do you think that anti-doping agencies don’t work enough well? Do you mean that they should establish more sophisticated drug testing systems? Do you claim that they don’t do their job properly?
It is important to see that no any drug testing program is capable to eradicate doping from sports completely. Athletes find several ways to avoid detection. Administration of doping remedies is a part of sports. It exists from ancient time. Even ancient Greeks and Romans had certain ways to enhance their performance to win. Will athletes stop administering steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs now?
Certain sportspersons purchase undetectable medications and administer them. Moreover, they hire experts that supply them with tips for application of anabolic steroids and/or other doping products. So, some athletes have unfair advantage over others. Anti-doping officials can’t change the situation. They can’t make sports “clean”. What is it necessary to do under such circumstances? It is probably needed to legalize doping in professional sports. So, anyone will be allowed to apply whatever he/she wants. As a result, no any athlete will have unfair advantage over another.
But since anabolic steroids and other related products are not permitted in sports, athletes try to find ways to obtain and apply these preparations, avoiding detection. When it becomes evident that several athletes dope, scandals appear.