Bad Effects of Steroids Every day, professional and amateur athletes and body builders thrive to achieve their goals and dreams of winning gold medals or representing their country around the world. The sports or games they participate in require physical strength, athleticism, and endurance, and due to the tough competition they face, some of these athletes decide to take performance-enhancing drugs, an act called doping. The most famous of these drugs are anabolic steroids. , which are, as defined by the Controlled Substances Act issued by the Food and Drugs Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, any drug or hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone that promotes muscle growth. Patients with a prescription can take steroids to treat certain diseases such as delayed puberty. However, the use of anabolic steroids should be stopped because it poses a high risk to physical and mental health. Many athletes take steroids in higher doses than recommended by their doctor, which causes, as I mentioned before, serious physical side effects such as: prominent breasts, baldness, shrunken testicles, impotence for men and infrequent or absent menstrual cycles, baldness , deeper voice, enlarged clitoris for women, and both may suffer from high blood pressure, heart problems, acne and liver tumors. Additionally, adolescents are at risk, as quoted in an article by Marty Kaminsky, Dr. Gary Wadler, professor of medicine at New York University, states, “For an adolescent, steroid use accelerates the closing of long bones. The body thinks you are out of adolescence, so you may not reach your genetically predetermined height.” (Boy's Life, June 2005). In addition to that, the mental heart…middle of the paper…Erica's colleges and universities. . Retrieved May 24, 2014, from http://www.casacolumbia.org/newsroom/op-eds/wasting-best-and-brightest-alcohol-and-drug-abuse-college-campusesKaminsky, M. (2005, June 1) . The dangers of steroids. . Retrieved May 24, 2014, from http://boyslife.org/blgym/20007/the-dangers-of-steroidsOverweight and Obesity. (2014, March 28). . Retrieved May 24, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Know the Risks. (2012, December 12). . Retrieved May 24, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/in-depth/performance-enhancing-drugs/art-20046134The Controlled Substances Act http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/ legislation/ucm148726.htmWhy and how hair loss occurs. (2014, March 25). . Retrieved May 25, 2014, from http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/hair_skin_nails/hair_loss