Miles Files: Using steroids in sports is not OK Miles Files: Using steroids in sports is not OK (December 15, 2004)

By Miles McMullin

8th grader, St. Joseph's School

Modern medicine can help make people stronger, but sometimes medicine is used in the wrong way. This is true when athletes use steroids.

Steroids make an athlete stronger and more capable, but in every sport, steroids are illegal.

Recently the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Barry Bonds received steroids and human growth hormone from a nutritional supplements lab implicated in a steroid-distribution ring, according to information given to federal investigators.

Bonds said he had used a cream and a clear liquid provided by his personal trainer but believed they were arthritis pain cream and flaxseed oil, according to his grand jury testimony reviewed by the Chronicle.

Investigators also were told that New York Yankees stars Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield, as well as three other major leaguers and one NFL player, were given steroids, the newspaper reported.

Sports at my school are a big deal. Given this controversy, I asked some of my friends what they think about steroid use. Personally, I think it stinks. I think Bonds and the others should not be allowed to get away with using them.

But I wanted to find out what my friends thought. Two of them said professional athletes should not be allowed to play sports when they are not performing solely off their own ability.

"All professional sport advisors should crack down on these athletes now," said a friend.

Some of the best athletes at my school were really disappointed because these guys are supposed to be role models.

Everyone I talked to said that they hoped that this issue is not put under the carpet and that these athletes are punished. They should not be allowed to get away with the use of the illegal drugs. I couldn't agree more.

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