Drugs in Sports

Athletes are heroes and role models for many young kids and minor league players. However several top athletes are setting a negative example for the next generation by using performance enhancing drugs, also known as PED's. Showing that drugs is the only way to be good. What records and success has been achieved by artificial means or true greatness? Are negative reports about positive drug tests overshadowing accomplishments? (Rhetorical question)

Barry Bonds, on August 7th 2007, became the Major League Baseball all-time homerun hitter. He broke the homerun record that was held for 33 years by Hank Aaron. Over 43,000 fans were on their feet screaming when Bonds broke the record with the San Francisco Giants (Emotive language). Bonds played for 23 seasons in Major League Baseball, he was 43 at the time. His teammates, coaches, and his son flooded onto the baseball field to offer their congratulations. His God Father Willie Mays who is a member of the baseball hall of fame congratulated him. A congratulatory message from another baseball legend Hank Aaron was played on video. Bonds also achieved the National League Most Valuable Player seven times, hit seventy-three home runs in a single season, had the highest on-base percentage, and several other accomplishments. Upon retirement Barry Bonds was almost guaranteed induction into the Major League Baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown. (Hyperbole)

Unfortunately all of Barry Bonds accomplishments are now tainted and diminished by allegations of use of PED's. One of the best players of all-time is now labelled as a cheater. Bond's was accused of using anabolic steroids and Human Growth Hormone also known as HGH. PED's, including steroids and HGH, are banned in Major League Baseball. In a postgame conference Bonds denied use of PED's and was quoted in spring training in 2007 "Let them investigate. It doesn't weigh on me at all. It's just media conversation." (Dobbins, Par 2) (Pathos) To make matters worse Barry Bond's was also part of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative scandal. The company was accused of supplying performance enhancing drugs to Major League Players for fourteen years. Over 550 players were tested and Bonds was one of the 20 players who tested positive for PED's. (Logos)

Canadian Ben Johnson won the 100 metre sprint in a world-record time of 9.79 seconds at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. His gold medal and world record were removed after he tested positive for anabolic steroids. He was banned from competition for two years.

Nearly 15 years after the Seoul Olympics it was discovered that several American track athletes tested positive for drugs. Carl Lewis was one of the alleged athletes; he was awarded the gold medal after Ben Johnson's disqualification. (Irony)

Major League Baseball implemented random drug testing to detect and prevent use of PED's. It is mandatory for players