Performance Enhancing Drugs

Alex Rodriguez is currently the poster boy for PED usage in the MLB. Having admitted to using PED’s in prior seasons, A-Rod’s name has recently been revealed on a list that once again states he has, or at least is being accused, of using PED’s once again. According to the MLB, first time PED offenders will be receiving a 50 game suspension, 100 games for second offenders, and a life time ban for the third offense. This would be A-Rod’s second offense, but for some reason the MLB plans to suspend him for 211 games. If suspended for 211 games, A-Rod will lose $32 million out of $93 million due to him. Many people don’t understand why A-Rod was still playing even after his name had been revealed from this list. The reason for this is that A-Rod plans to appeal his suspension to the seemingly unfair penalty. If the appeal is successful, A-Rod can be suspended for 50-100 games, if there is evident proof that he was in fact using PED’s.

Lance Armstrong, left, during the Tour de France in 2004

Lance Armstrong, the famous bicyclist, finally came clean about using PEDs on an Oprah interview 9 months ago. He clearly takes responsibility for his actions on the interview and talks about the types of drugs he used. These include banned endurance boosters and popped testosterone pills. Armstrong is clearly in the fault but what about the doctors who acted as the “middle man” in this operation. According to Travis Tygart, the chief executive of the antidoping agency, Usada (United States Anti-Drug Agency) have not the named the name of the doctors prescribing these drugs because they are investigating the individuals who have taken these drugs not the people prescribing them. That was twelve months ago and there still have not been a case against the doctors who gave Armstrong these drugs. The drugs helped Armstrong will the Tour de France seven times. The drugs made the field unfair for the other competitors due to Armstrong’s advantage over them.

Lewis, currently recovering from torn triceps, to return in time for AFC Wild Card game against Colts.
Patrick Mcdermott/Getty Images

Raven’s linebacker, Ray Lewis, suffered an apparent season ending injury against the Dallas Cowboys on October 14 in the 2012-2013 season. Team doctors speculated that this would be a season ending injury for the 17 year NFL veteran. Early in January Lewis announced that this would be the final season for him after being sidelined for a majority of the season. However, Lewis did not spend the last few games in his NFL career on the sidelines. Lewis made his reappearance at the AFC wild card game against the Colts. One may wonder how Lewis was able to return so soon after having his right triceps torn completely off the bone. Lewis may call it an act of ‘G-d’ and a miracle however, they may be a scientific reason behind this miraculous speedy recovery. The NYTimes reports “denying that he ever had taken a deer antler extract that contained IGF-1”. The speculations of Lewis’ illegal substance use couldn’t come at a better time, the league doesn’t have enough time to launch an investigation. One can only ask whether the timing was planned.

David Abusheikh, user of protein supplements, working out at the gym.

David Abusheikh, an 18 year old boy, wasn’t always interested in using supplements, but he “wanted something that would help me get bigger a little faster.”, which is how some teenage boys are thinking nowadays when they begin working out. According to this article, “more than 40 percent of boys in middle school and high school said they regularly exercised with the goal of increasing muscle mass. Thirty-eight percent said they used protein supplements, and nearly 6 percent said they had experimented with steroids.” The amount of teenage boys using supplements is alarming.

Edward Humphries makes a play against Lehman College’s Men’s Soccer team

Over in Maspeth, New York at the Met Oval our Baruch Men’s Soccer Team played an exciting match against the Leman College Lightning. The victory all started months prior to the game with pre season preparations, although the division III team doesn’t achieve as much glory compared to their upper division counterparts the rivalry and spirit of competition is still very much present. Despite the uncommon drug testing  that goes on in division 3 teams they are still readily available. To maintain fair competition and most important student-athlete safety players are subjected to although not always required to submit to a drug test.

As seen at the Bearcat’s October 9th home game against Lehman College, the team overcame an early 1-0 deficit to win with a final score of 2-1. This was made possible not with the use of PEDs, but rather practice and teamwork that was evident in Baruch’s two scoring plays.