Tony Thompson expresses his attitude to anti-doping laws

Anabolic steroids are widely used around the world. While some persons apply these medications in order to treat certain diseases, others administer them in order to enhance muscle mass, add strength, decrease fat deposits, etc. Undoubtedly, nobody will be ever capable to contest benefits that can be reached with the help of these products. But it is important to take into account that anabolic steroids cause undesirable reactions along with benefits. That’s why those that intend to administer these medicines should study probable dangers before they begin to take these medicines.
Knowing about probable risks, you can find some methods in order to avoid or minimize them. Those who have ever administered anabolic steroids know that some of them convert into estrogen in the body, causing such adverse effects, as water retention, gynecomastia, fat accumulation, etc. Anti-estrogen medications are capable to prevent or at least to reduce severity of these health problems. Anabolic steroids also suppress natural production of testosterone. Luckily, there are several remedies that are capable to restore this process.
Besides of medications, there are also other ways to avoid or minimize adverse reactions. Dosages should be reduced; cycles must not be prolonged; appropriate stacks should be chosen, etc.
While certain negative consequences of steroids are obvious, others can be detected just with the help of lab tests. Thus, anabolic steroids may enhance hematrocrit levels. This unwanted consequence is quite dangerous. High hematocrit levels cause other severe adverse consequences. Individuals with this problem may face diseases of cardiovascular system and problems related to blood circulation. Even heart attack and death may result from high hematocrit levels. That’s why it is necessary to check hematocrit levels while taking anabolic-androgenic steroids.
If a consumer of steroids learns that he/she has high hematocrit levels, this person should consult his/her treating physician. Intake of steroids must be stopped. Doctors appoint preparations for reduction of hematocrit levels. Thus, hematocrit levels should return to their normal levels. Otherwise, additional problems will appear.
Hematocrit levels should be maintained within normal range. There are some simple rules which should be kept by sportspersons for this purpose. Those that train intensively should consume much water. Furthermore, it is recommended consuming grapefruit. It is stated that this fruit contains a substance that is able to reduce high hematocrit levels.
In case you desire to avoid having elevated hematocrit levels, don’t take steroids!

How can be hematocrit levels maintained within normal range?

Tony Thompson, a boxer, claims that anabolic steroids and other doping products should be legalized in boxing. The athlete claims that anti-doping laws and gun laws are identical. Who keeps gun laws? Only good guys do it. That’s why good guys are at a disadvantage. Thus, the similar situation is linked with anti-doping rules. Just honest athletes don’t administer anabolic steroids and/or other doping products. So, they fight with those who have increased their performance with the help of steroids and other related drugs.
It is stated that steroids are not allowed in sports because they are dangerous. What would you believe about boxing in itself? Is boxing safe? The answer is evident.
But it is also stated that it is necessary to prohibit anabolic steroids and other related products in order to make boxing safer. Anabolic steroids and other doping products enhance performance. The more enhanced performance is, the more dangerous rounds are. Although it is true, would you ban anything that promotes performance of boxers? So, you prohibit anabolic steroids because they enhance performance. Then prohibit workouts as well since they increase performance too! Thus, you will decrease performance while minimizing possible risks. What do you think about this aspect?
Tony Thompson also adds that detection tests are not efficacious at all. While numerous athletes take forbidden medicines, just some of them are caught and suspended. Thus, dopers have unfair advantage over those that obey anti-doping rules. There is no fairness.
Of course, arguments provided by Tony Thompson are reasonable. Anti-doping laws make rounds more unfair. Moreover, the ban of doping doesn’t make rounds safer. Numerous boxers continue to take anabolic steroids and/or other forbidden preparations without being detected. They continue to fight and have success with the help of doping, while good guys are at a disadvantage because they keep anti-doping laws.
Thus, if doping is allowed in boxing, matches will be more honest. Undoubtedly, they will remain unsafe. But they will be at least honest.
Tony Thompson has been harshly criticized for his statements pro legalization of doping in boxing.

Athletes always dope

Steroids are regularly taken by sportspersons, bodybuilders and by ordinary individuals. Since these medicines are forbidden in sports, doping scandals are reported every day. Other remedies are used along with anabolic steroids. A lot of athletes are inclined to apply heroin. You would possibly wonder why heroin is applied in sports. It is suggested that heroin is used by sportspersons for relief of pain.
Studying history of doping in sports, you can notice that sportspersons are ready to utilize numerous strange things, if these remedies have ability to increase muscle mass, ban fat, add energy, speed recovery from muscle injuries and kill pains. Gorgets and pickle juice are just some remedies that are utilized along with anabolic steroids.
Doping is not a new factor in sports. Athletes dope from ancient times. They put efforts to introduce new remedies that can help them to reach certain goals through increase of performance. It is frequently claimed that sports are good for health. Sportspersons and bodybuilders are normally viewed as healthy persons. But it is a wrong point of view. Sports are associated with several dangers for health. Sportspersons push their bodies till limits. They use several dangerous remedies which promote their succeeding, acquiring awards and earning money. Although some sportspersons reach brilliant results related to prizes, they ruin their health essentially. Some sportspersons and bodybuilders even apply such products that may be fatal. They do it in the name of athletic performance and success in sports.
Although new remedies for enhancement of performance are introduced, you probably notice that the most of scandals are linked with anabolic-androgenic steroids and growth hormones. While several remedies appear and disappear quickly, anabolic steroids are unlikely to disappear. However anti-doping officials try to eradicate usage of anabolic steroids from sports, their efforts turn out to be unsuccessful. While anti-doping officers elaborate more efficient tests for detection of anabolic steroids and other related drugs, sportspersons and bodybuilders find more sophisticated ways to dope and avoid detection. So, many athletes dope while not being caught by anti-doping agencies. Nobody can contest that anabolic steroids and several other performance-enhancing drugs are widely used in sports and bodybuilding. Application of steroids is unlikely to be eliminated from sports.

Did steroids cause violent behavior in Oscar Pistorius?

Oscar Pistorius acknowledged that he had murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. But the athlete underlined that he had shot her because he had mistaken her for a thief.
Police officers try to define why Oscar Pistorius really murdered Reeva Steenkamp. They found anabolic steroids at the athlete’s home.
Since anabolic steroids have been found in Oscar’s bedroom, it would be probably argued that steroids caused uncontrolled violent behavior in the athlete. Steroids would be demonized for the murder.
Actually, you should comprehend that it is quite hardly to state that steroids are responsible for aggression and violent behavior. Studies linked with this issue are quite limited. According to results of several researches, users of steroids are predisposed to aggression, paranoia, jealousy, etc. It is claimed that those who apply steroids are more likely to be involved in crimes than those that have nothing to do with these medicines. But it is important to take into account that anabolic steroids may just contribute to aggression. Only these medications alone can’t cause aggression. They turn out to be only factors that contribute into uncontrolled aggression. Other factors should be also present for appearing of aggression. Circumstances play essential role in such cases. So, it is even impossible to determine whether anabolic steroids cause aggression or several circumstances. Cases should be reviewed as a complex of steroid use and circumstances.
It is also stated by experts that enhanced testosterone levels are associated with aggression in certain individuals. Thus, it is important to specify here that while several persons with enhanced testosterone levels suffer from aggression, others with elevated levels of testosterone are not predisposed to uncontrolled violence. This condition differs from one person to another.
You can see that the link between application of steroids and violence is a complicated issue. Specialists have not studied this condition well enough to engage it. Thus, if defense lawyers of the Olympic athlete desire to argue that anabolic steroids have made their client to murder his girlfriend, they should understand that they are going to use controversial affirmations.

Drug manufacturers have good relations with anti-doping officials

Today a lot of drug manufacturers are ready to collaborate with anti-doping officers in their fight against intake of banned preparations in sports. It sounds strange but it is the reality. In fact, if you look at the fate of EPO, you can understand why drug manufacturers agree to support efforts of anti-doping officials. EPO is really an efficacious remedy for treatment of anemia. A lot of individuals with anemia that have taken EPO have been treated. But what do you think while hearing about this preparation? Almost each individual associates this remedy only with doping in sports. This product has been abused by the seven-time winner Lance Armstrong that has cheated the whole world. So, EPO is associated just with lying, disgrace, etc. Looking at this situation, drug manufacturers try to “defend” their medications from the similar fate. That’s why they collaborate with anti-doping officials.
Although certain drug manufacturers started to cooperate with anti-doping officers earlier, sometimes there were certain problems between them. Anti-doping agencies criticized certain pharmaceutical companies for their links to doping.
Nowadays relations between anti-doping agencies and drug manufacturers are better. Pharmaceutical companies share detailed information about new medicines with anti-doping officers. It is valuable information for development of detection tests for these medicines. While anti-doping agencies find out how medicines are manufactured, how they pass into body, how they work in the body, they can develop more efficient tests for these medications.
For example, the pharmaceutical company Roche that introduced the drug CERA helped anti-doping officers to introduce a detection test for it. Later other drug manufacturers followed the example of Roche. The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline went so far, as it sponsored an anti-doping lab during Olympics in London.
While relations between anti-doping officials and big drug manufacturers become stronger, smaller pharmaceutical companies begin to collaborate with anti-doping officers as well. While previously drug manufacturers haven’t wanted to discuss about their links to anti-doping officials publicly, now they don’t fear to announce about this condition.

Anti-doping rules should not exist in sports

It is not necessary to subject sportspeople to tests for doping substances. A lot of cases manifest that tests for prohibited preparations aren’t efficient. Moreover, it is important to comprehend that application of tests by anti-doping agencies is illogical at Olympics. The chief purpose of Olympic sportspersons is following: to become faster, stronger and to be at the highest level. So, why should you keep athletes far from preparations which could help them to reach this result?
As you know, anabolic steroids and other related products increase performance. So, athletes should be allowed to use these remedies in order to enhance physical performance.
A lot of individuals claim that anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs make competitions unfair. Is this opinion true? No, it wrong. You should realize that tests for steroids and other related drugs make competitions unfair. A lot of athletes use doping products while avoiding detection. So, several athletes apply steroids; others don’t break anti-doping rules. As a result, dopers have unfair advantage over non-dopers. It’s unfair. Let all sportspersons have similar access to performance-enhancing drugs. Thus, competitions will be fairer.
But debating about unfairness in sports, you should not forget about other aspects which have more significant influence of fairness/unfairness than steroids and other related drugs. Some athletes live in developed countries; others are in less developed countries. Several sportspersons have money to purchase necessary equipment; others can’t afford it. Certain countries can sponsor sportspersons, coaches, sport doctors and managers; others are not able to do it. Thus, unfairness should be discussed here.
Olympic sportspersons spend much time while training. They sacrifice time, money, etc. That’s why it is illogical to suspend those that are caught administering anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.
While sportspeople are sentenced to bans for application of steroids and several other chemical substances, they are never suspended for application of herbs and certain potions. It is claimed that anabolic steroids and other chemical substances are banned in sports because they can enhance physical performance. But what is for herbs and potions? They are also capable to enhance energy. Nonetheless, these remedies are not prohibited in sports.  Chinese sportspersons use herbal remedies and win.
Of course, you may argue that anabolic steroids and certain other medications may result in grave negative reactions. Undoubtedly, several forbidden medicines may cause serious health troubles. But those that plan to use these products do own research. They are aware of potential dangers. Let sportspersons decide whether it is worthy to administer such preparations. If they are ready to worsen health, let them do it because they should manage own bodies.

Which powder is used for manufacture of steroids around world?

David Howman, the CEO of the WADA, says that China is the chief source of raw materials utilized by underground labs for manufacture of anabolic steroids, HGH and other related products. Raw powders are sent from this country. Then underground labs produce illicit medications which are offered for sale by dealers at gyms and on the streets.
The black market of anabolic steroids controls sales of illegal drugs on the white market. The black market turns out to be the source of medications that are purchasable on the white market. It is stated that almost all products which are sold have been originally acquired from underground labs that have used raw materials from China.
Top athletes are frequently demonized for application of anabolic steroids and other doping products. Since doping scandals appear daily, thousands individuals consider that anabolic steroids and other related medicines are mainly administered by elite sportspersons. But it is important to mention that this a wrong point of view. Several specialists have defined that anabolic steroids and other related medicines are more widely taken by high school students and aged persons who try to improve their appearance. While students want to increase muscles with the help of anabolic steroids and some other illegal products, aged individuals try to gain strength and reduce fat deposits with the help of these drugs.
Unfortunately, legal supplements often contain steroidal ingredients. Companies include such substances intentionally. As a result, those who take only nutritional and/or sport supplements turn out to be dopers. According to the WADA director David Howman, it is necessary to control supplement industry in order to prevent appearing of supplements that contain illegal compounds.

Allow sportspersons take whatever they desire!

What is your point of view linked with legalization of doping in sports?  Certain persons think that it is time to legalize it. Others don’t agree. What do you believe?
Those that are against legalization of doping in sports believe that steroids and other related drugs represent great evil. They may cause severe undesirable reactions in consumers. Furthermore, a doper has unfair advantage over a non-doper during competitions.
According to another point of view, intake of anabolic steroids and other doping products should be allowed in sports. Let sportspeople administer whatever they want! If they want to apply anabolic steroids, let them do it! If they intend to administer other medicines, let them do it! If they want to apply certain preparations, let doctors monitor their application! Health care providers know what their patients should do in order to prevent several negative results. Thus, performance-enhancing drugs will not lead to grave negative consequences. As a result, intake of steroids and other related preparations will be relatively safe for health and life of users.
As you know, anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are currently forbidden in sports. When sportspersons are suspected and/or found guilty of doping, scandals appear. Such situations are widely discussed during TV shows, in magazines, newspapers, on internet, etc. You must know that each scandal commonly contains not only truth but also gossips, exaggerations, etc. As a result, you can’t be sure whether several affirmations are true or not.
Those that are against legalization of doping in sports say that sportspersons increase performance unnaturally with the help of steroids and other related preparations. Discussing about enhancement of physical performance, you should not forget about enhancement of sexual performance, cognitive skills, improvement of health, etc. Why do we use several preparations and supplements, improving our health and life, while blaming athletes that try to promote performance with steroids and other doping products? Is it fairly? You would note that steroids and several other performance-enhancing drugs lead to health problems. Yes, it is true. But what do you think about usage of caffeine and nicotine? They are accepted in the society. But it is necessary to notice that caffeine and nicotine lead to more severe health problems than steroids and other related medications. Nevertheless, consumers of caffeine and nicotine are not so harshly demonized, as users of steroids.
Anti-doping agencies consider that they will soon eradicate doping from sports. “Competitions will be fair”, - they exclaim. But it is important to acknowledge that doping will be never eliminated from sports. Anti-doping officials will not be ever capable to do it. While they introduce new methods of detection and enhance punishment for administration of prohibited substances, sportspersons find new ways to avoid detection. So, anyone should understand that this “game” will never end, if doping is not permitted in sports.

Enhancement of physical performance through various procedures

The reporter Dan Le Batard notices that it is needed to think over our attitude to doping. Do we evaluate various sportspersons the same way? Do we accept application of steroids and other related medicines by sportspersons? What is our real attitude towards sportspersons that use steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs/procedures? Do we praise those that are successful in sports due to anabolic steroids and other related remedies?
Sometimes the society is guilty for doping of athletes. The society should be demonized for abnormal actions of sportspersons. The society admires of abnormal things which occur in the world of sports. The society expresses admiration of those that have ligaments taken from cadavers. The society admires of athletes that are involved in different abnormal actions: playing football with catheter, cutting fingers off, etc. Sportspersons do a lot to be prominent. They submit to various procedures that are not needed for their health. Furthermore, they apply such drugs and procedures that ruin their health. Why do they do such things? The answer is evident: they want to hear words of admiration; they desire to become famous. So, they do it for physical performance. While athletes use remedies which cause essential harm in them, we support their behavior through our admiration, awards, money, etc.
In fact, the society is full of hypocrisy. While we are used to blame anabolic steroids and certain other banned drugs, we don’t condemn athletes that utilize various procedures for increase of their physical performance. While we demonize several dopers, we praise others. Why are some medications and procedures prohibited for enhancement of performance, while others are permitted? Let be real! If you demonize anabolic steroids, don’t support those that apply alternatives to these medicines which can also promote athletic performance. If you desire to see natural talents of athletes, don’t admire of those that submit to different procedures for increase of athletic performance! Before you blame or admire someone/something, think over this aspect! Don’t hurry and be honest!

Athletes buy steroids at anti-aging clinics

A lot of anti-aging clinics are connected with doping scandals. It’s naturally because they supply athletes and bodybuilders with anabolic steroids and other related preparations. When appropriate authorities raid anti-aging clinics and confiscate documents, they find out that certain successful sport figures belong to clients of the clinics.
Lately several anti-aging clinics located in Miami were investigated. Federal agents defined that the clinics offered prescription drugs for sale illegally. The clinics sold preparations for enhancement of muscle mass, reduction of fat deposits, enhancement of endurance, etc.
According to the newspaper the Miami New Times, the anti-aging clinic Biogenesis was found guilty of illegal sale of performance-enhancing drugs. Furthermore, such celebrated baseball players, as Alex Rodriquez and Melky Cabrera purchased doping products at Biogenesis of America. So, the anti-aging clinic appeared to be connected with one of the biggest doping scandals in baseball.
Medical records of Biogenesis were obtained from an employee of the clinic. The records were displayed on the site of the newspaper Miami New Times. Journalists claimed that the employee who provided the records didn’t want to be identified.
It is reported that anabolic steroids, HGH, IGF-1 and other prescription drugs are widely sold illegally by anti-aging clinics. Moreover, clinics hire physicians that provide fake prescriptions. Prescriptions for steroids and other doping products are often given to clients without needed evaluation of their personal conditions. Moreover, physicians supply clients with needed prescriptions even without seeing them. In additions to these aspects, some corrupt physicians permit anti-aging clinics to utilize their prescription pads. As a result, anti-aging clinics sell anabolic steroids, painkillers and other prescription drugs illegally, as if they worked legally.
When illegal activities of anti-aging clinics become obvious, owners of clinics, doctors and some employees are sentenced to certain sanctions. Nonetheless, the risk to receive punishment doesn’t stop clinics from their illicit activities. However proper authorities try to eliminate illicit sale of prescription preparations, their success is not yet significant.

Frank Thomas is happy that he has never used performance-enhancing drugs

However some persons claim that doping will be never eliminated from sports, you can come across more optimistic opinions linked with this issue.
The former MLB player Frank Thomas claims that he has had success has in baseball without administration of anabolic steroids and other related preparations. He is happy that he has never doped. Looking at Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, he is proud of his achievements in baseball. The baseball stars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have achieved excellent success. But now their accomplishments are removed. These athletes are claimed to be cheaters. They haven’t been introduced into the Baseball Hall of Fame, despites of their success. Frank Thomas is happy about this aspect. He notes that steroid users must never be in the Hall of Fame. Moreover, Frank Thomas claims that he has played during the steroid era successfully without administration of banned medications.
Frank Thomas notes that he has respected the successful baseball players Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  But since they have administered steroids and/or other forbidden medications, Frank Thomas doesn’t consider them stars longer. However, he doesn’t have harsh words for them. But Frank Thomas claims that administration of doping products is their decision and they should suffer the consequences, being out of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa have been tainted. Their achievements don’t cost anything because they are fake. Such sportspersons shouldn’t be praised.
Frank Thomas considers that the MLB acts correctly, agreeing to elaborate blood testing for HGH. While baseball players have submitted to urine testing for HGH, they will be also subjected to blood testing for this banned preparation systematically. Thus, Frank Thomas thinks that the anti-doping policy becomes more effectual in the MLB. He suggests that doping will be eradicated from this sport entirely. Games will be soon fair, according to Frank Thomas.

No any drug testing system will eradicate doping from sports

Many professional athletes obtained steroids and other doping products from Biogenesis, a Miami anti-aging clinic. The famous baseball stars Alex Rodriquez, Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon also belonged to persons that got anabolic steroids at this clinic.
What is uncommon here? - Nothing. Anabolic steroids and other related products are widely used in baseball and in other sports. Athletes get these medications at pharmacies, clinics, etc. Numerous anti-ageing clinics, pharmaceutical companies and other related establishments distribute anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs illegally. Biogenesis is not the only clinic that is involved in illegal operations related to steroids and other prescription preparations. Athletes find various ways to obtain steroids and other related products and apply them. Although anti-doping officials try to eliminate doping from sports, their efforts are not successful.
Do you suppose that anti-doping officers don’t work enough well? Do you mean that they should elaborate more sophisticated drug testing programs? Do you think that they don’t do their job properly?
It is important to realize that no any drug testing policy is able to eradicate doping from sports completely. Sportspersons find many ways to avoid detection. Administration of doping remedies is a part of sports. It exists from ancient time. Even ancient Greeks and Romans had certain methods to enhance their performance to win. Will athletes discontinue applying anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs now?
Several sportspersons purchase undetectable medicines and administer them. Moreover, they hire experts that provide tips for usage of anabolic steroids and/or other performance-enhancing drugs. So, certain sportspersons have unfair advantage over others. Anti-doping officials can’t change the situation. They can’t make sports “clean”. What is it necessary to do under such circumstances? It is probably better to legalize doping in professional sports. Thus, anyone will be allowed to use whatever he/she desires. As a result, no any sportsperson will have unfair advantage over another.
But since steroids and other related products are prohibited in sports, sportspersons try to find methods to get and take these medications, avoiding detection. When it becomes evident that certain athletes dope, scandals are reported.