The year was 1980. Arnold Schwarzenegger was awarded the
title of Mr. Olympia and soon was launched into an incredible
movie career resulting from his body building achievements.
But what about the others? The names we didn't remember
even though they too, had created amazingly large & muscular
bodies from years of weight training, dieting and probable drug
use. Lou Ferrigno made it into television; Tom Platz has
continued in the fitness industry; but unfortunately for one of
these competitors there will be no tomorrow. Mike Mentzer died
in 2001 after a history of heart trouble. He was 49.
For a teenager or youthful 20's athlete, 49 is nearly 50 and that
generally equates to getting older anyway. But to most of us,
and in comparison to our life expectancy which averages out to
over 70 and increases each year, 49 is way too young to be
dying. The question is what is it worth for the remote chance
that you will successfully achieve what will amount to a very
short period of success or limelight in athletics or the public
eye?
Anabolic steroids were and have been very common throughout
the years of body building and athletics even after being
declared illegal and unsafe. More than 70 identifiable side
effects from steroids that range in severity from liver cancer to
acne with the liver and the cardiovascular and reproductive
systems being the major target organs affected. Though there
have been several high profile cases of deaths related to steroid
use, this hasn't slowed the use of steroids as the percentage of
people, especially youths using the drug is on the rise. (NIDA).
The mixing of messages
Young athletes are under enormous pressures when facing the
choice of improving performance, making the team and
hopefully succeeding to the professional level where the
monetary rewards are beyond imagination for the elite few who
make it to this level. They are aware that taking steroids will
improve their chances and can only weigh it against what might
happen to them at an inconceivable period from now. Their
competition may be taking it, putting them at a disadvantage
and possibly stealing what may have been rightfully theirs had
the playing field been level.
But the playing field isn't level and if they make it to the pro's,
the public will be on their team irregardless of what they took to
get there.
The saddest part of steroids in body building is that the public
is led to think of these competitors as healthy. In fact, the
health and fitness magazines on the stands promote these
folks as ideals of health, showing smiling, happy muscle
headed guys with bikini girls all around them as they pick fruit
from a bowl. The manufacturers put their products in these
peoples hands quoting how they use this product to achieve
results. Never mind that the only way people get this big is
through steroid use. Period.
Blaming the magazines and the product manufacturers that
own most of them to sell their products would be the easy
target. This is a market driven economy and the truth has never
been the norm in advertising, no matter what is being sold and
to whom. The winners, the pro's, the ones we cherish, the real
victims need to wake up, step forward and change this cycle.
The Time is Now
Those who have abused steroids through the 60's, 70's & 80's
must stop hiding their personal sorrows & step up to the plate,
come together & collectively state their current health status to
the public. Maybe you benefited from a couple of years as a
competition winning body builder. Perhaps you became an NFL
linebacker or professional baseball player. Or maybe your name
is Arnold and you went to the hospital due to some irregularities
and my friend did possibly save your life by bringing a condition
to the doctors attention. Now that you feel the effects of being a
victim of the cycle, it is up to you to bring it to a close.
See if you can save today's youth and tomorrow's hero from
being a future hospital patient or obituary headliner all for what
may not even become 15 minutes of fame.
Remember:
YOU have the POWER!
Darren Rieck
