Sports is all about competition and there is certainly nothing wrong with keeping the sportsmen spirit alive by being competitive. What makes athletes and sportsmen different from average people is their desire to become better and do better. An athlete will leave no stone unturned when it comes to improving his performance. This means that athletes will never shy away from working extra hours in the gym or eating double protein per day. Of course, there is also the performance enhancing supplements that are available to help them too. There are some products that are not bad at all such as caffeine and energy drinks – steroids do not have a positive reputation amongst people at all. In this article, we are talking about the top 4 athletes’ “before and after steroids” stories that became famous (or maybe infamous) for both good and bad reasons.
Why Are Steroids Considered Bad?
The first thing that pops into our mind when we hear steroids are drugs and that is not a good thing, right? This is why steroids have a negative reputation. Of course, there are few exceptions of the anabolic steroids that are authorized and pre-tested prior to release in the market. But the majority of steroids are not healthy. The worst thing about these drugs is that they come with risks which can sometimes lead to life-threatening situations.
Before and After Steroids Stories of Some Famous Athletes
The “before and after steroids” stories of successful sports athletes will surely be an eye-opener for you. It will tell you how drug abuse can lead you from heights of fame and success to the depths of failure. These athletes are legends of their respective games and the wrong way to enhance their performance didn’t turn out well for them.
- Tyson Gay
One of the few games that require a lot of physical power and strength is sprinting – i.e. speed running or racing. Tyson Gay was the big name in the sprinting world and an international champion as well. He also won an Olympic Silver Medal in 2011. However, he was later tested positive for doping in 2013 which led him to be banned from international sports forever. His Olympic title and medal were also taken back.
- Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro is one of the biggest names in the baseball leagues of the United States. He was adored by millions until he was accused of being on drugs for boosting his performance on the field.
He was temporarily suspended as well on basis of these accusations, but he never admitted using them. Later he was also accused of using anabolic steroids after being tested positive for it. He, however, refuted that too and said that he was unaware of what had happened; citing the incident as an unfortunate mishap.
- Floyd Landis
Cycling is one of the most physically exhausting sports. Floyd Landis was a renowned cyclist, but he also fell victim to steroids abuse. He was convicted positive of using drugs as his testosterone levels were found to be higher than average. He was however not banned but only suspended for some time. Unfortunately, he was tested positive not long after he made his return which resulted in his permanent ban from the game.
- Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun became a household name in the United States in 2009. He was one of the few lucky people who found immense success not long after coming into the professional world of sports. He was a very successful baseball player for the Major League Baseball. He also held the pride to be the only baseball player for making maximum runs on the field for 4 consecutive years. However, bad luck struck when he was tested for dope in 2011 and his results came positive. His testosterone levels were 4 times higher than normal. He was suspended from twenty-five games after that.
Convicted of Steroids Abuse
The end results of steroids or drug abuse are not good. If officials convict professional athletes and sportsmen of using steroids and doping – they are straight away banned from their games. There is no other way out. The before and after steroids abuse life for sportsmen is certainly not an ideal example to follow.
If you are a professional or hope to become one someday – you should vow to stay away from drug abuse and follow the right path for success, the tough path. This is the only way to earn respect along with success and fame.
