Eichner (1997) defines a performance enhancing drug as any substance taken in abnormal quantities with the intent to enhance performance in an artificial way. Identifying a formal definition can be problematic, as it is difficult to operationalize “enhanced performance” (Simon, 1983, p.121). Ergogenic aids are strategies and treatments (legal or illegal) designed to improve physical performance above and beyond the effects of physiological and biomechanical training, while they can be very costly and the ergogenic effects are often based on little if any scientific research (Eichner, 1997).
In 668 B.C., the Aztec athletes ate the human heart to improve performance (Verroken, 2001). In 500-400 B.C., the livers of deer and the hearts of lions were consumed by warriors and athletes of ancient sports to become brave, fast and strong (Applegate & Grivetti, 1997). Unbeknownst to the German female swimmers in the 1976 Olympics, they were given AAS (Yesalis & Cowart, 1998, p.46) to improve their performance. Sprinter, Ben Johnson was denied his Gold Medal in the 1988 Olympics, as he tested positive for the AAS, Wintsrol (Yesalis & Cowart, 1998, p.16).
During the 1970’s and the 1980’s, doctors lost credibility with many athletes when they told them that AAS neither increase strength nor added muscle (Stephens, 2001). Science later revealed this misconception among medical professionals, and now athletes are hesitant to approach doctors about the use of any ergogenic drugs or supplements (Stephens, 2001).
The desire to use performance enhancing drugs or supplements was created by a social fixation of American society on winning in athletics and improving physical appearance (Stephens, 2001). Although athletes view them as a major training aid (Silver, 2001), the use of performance-enhancing substances has spread to recreational athletes and non-athletes trying to improve physical appearance (Yesalis & Bahrke, 2005). As recreational bodybuilders started experimenting in the 1970’s striving for perfection in physical appearance, they found that the more they consumed, the closer their physiques came to perfection (Yesalis & Cowart, 2001, p.113). In recent years, people have been using performance enhancing drugs and ergogenic aids to help cope with daily challenges they face in their lives (Hoberman, 1994 p.114). They seek to prevent disease, reduce fatigue, enhance sexuality, delay aging, enhance looks and/or increase vitality (Stephens, 2001).
AAS are the most widely abused performance enhancing drug (Eichner, 1997). They belong to a class of medications that contain a synthetically manufactured form of testosterone. The word anabolic refers to tissue building (i.e. muscle building) while the term androgenic refers to masculinization. The benefits of AAS are that they promote muscle growth, decrease fatigue, decrease body fat, and they increase memory, mental alertness, sex drive, protein synthesis, and nitrogen retention, calcium deposit in bone, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrits (Yesalis & Cowart, 1998, p.28).
Although AAS have many benefits, they also have a number of barriers or adverse side effects. The side effects differ fro person-to-person, depending on body composition and the amount of AAS used and length of a cycle. Some of the adverse effects include hirsutism (increase in facial and body hair), acne, increased risk for cardiovascular disease, liver disease and kidney disease, muscle and ligament tears, joint pain, stretch marks and water retention (depending on the drug).
The attitudes toward high-risk behaviors have changed in recent years as scientific research has proven that such behaviors, such as high-fat diets, and smoking can be detrimental to health. Although there are so many barriers to the use of AAS, there are also many benefits, which is why society is less willing to reject the idea of ergogenic drug and supplement use among recreational exercisers (Silver, 2001). There is not a definitive answer to the question, “Is it acceptable for recreational athletes to take ergogenic drugs and/or supplements in order to gain a competitive edge or improve performance?”
There are three arguments of using ergogenic drugs and supplements. The Unnatural argument is the argument that ergogenic drug and supplement use in unnatural. This argument is ineffective for two reasons: (1) there is not a good account of what is natural and what is unnatural and (2) some natural agents are already produced in the body (Simon, 1984, p.121-125). The coercion argument states that if certain individuals are using ergogenic drugs and supplements then their peers are forced to use them too in order to be competitive (Simon, 1984, p.125). This is also ineffective because the word coerce lacks an objective meaning (Simon, 1984, p.125). The harm argument exists because it is believed that the use of ergogenic drugs and/or supplements will cause the body harm. The reason this argument has little merit with adults is because the intrusion into the life of a competent adult should not be permitted (Simon, 1983, p.123).