Steroid use affects many college sports, By: Chad Gallagher
Incoming lacrosse recruit charged with steroid possession in March 2005; steroids a hot topic in many programs
March 15, 2006, Cavalier Daily
Over the course of the last year, rampant steroid abuse among professional athletes gripped the headlines of many professional sports cultures. Major League Baseball's steroids problem has attracted the gaze of the lawmakers in Washington, D.C. as reports gave shocking descriptions of steroid use in the game. Two reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle will soon release a book linking Barry Bonds, among others, to heavy steroid use.
While the steroid spotlight shown on professional athletes, some collegiate and high school athletes have continued to be lured to the potential of fulfilling their athletic dreams through illegal performance enhancers.
An incoming Virginia lacrosse recruit, Ryan Nizolek, was charged in March 2005 with possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested in connection with a police investigation into steroids brought back illegally from Mexico by a group of Madison, Conn. high school athletes. The incident occurred weeks prior to the start of Nizolek's junior lacrosse season. Six other high school athletes were also charged with crimes from the same incident, ranging from possession and sale of a controlled drug, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and risk of injury to a minor. Because Nizolek was 17 at the time of the arrest and considered a youthful offender, the court proceedings and files are closed.
Despite the link to steroid use, Nizolek will be enrolling in Virginia as a student-athlete for the men's lacrosse team starting next September. Virginia men's lacrosse coach Dom Starsia had no comment specifically about Nizolek and steroid use.
While the University of Virginia athletic department does not specifically address steroids in its mission statement, it sets as one of its overarching goals to "develop students with strong values of leadership, sportsmanship, equity, citizenship, physical fitness, teamwork and a commitment to excellence."
Despite having a recruit tied to steroids, Starsia does not think his sport is tarnished by illegal drug enhancers.
"Maybe my head is in the sand on this one, but I seriously do not think it is an issue in collegiate lacrosse. There is no professional level to aspire to make -- these kids do not need to make those sacrifices," Starsia said.
Matt Avery, who was drafted in the ninth round by the Chicago Cubs in the Major League Draft after his junior year at Virginia, finds steroid abuse in baseball a troubling subject.
"While it is proven to show results, it is unfair to those unwilling to do this to their body," Avery said.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, anabolic steroids can lead to early heart disease, sudden death, an increase in tendon injuries, liver tumors, testicular atrophy, gynecomastia (abnormal enlargement of breasts in males), male pattern baldness, severe acne, premature closure of growth plates in adolescents, emotional disturbances and other significant health risks.
A minor league pitcher such as Avery must compete against other athletes who may be enhancing their ability through the illegal use of steroids.
"It takes away the work ethic from the game, because the people with good values are hurt," Avery said. "Steroid use definitely goes on at other colleges -- it can be very frustrating."
Despite the easy ability for athletes to cheat with steroids, many athletes such as Avery stay clear of the illegal muscle enhancers.
"To be dead honest, I'd rather not do steroids and never make it to the big leagues than to make it unethically through the use of steroids," Avery said.
Many athletes, however, decide to take another path to glory. Brian O'Connor, the Virginia baseball coach, does not doubt steroids are influential in collegiate sports.
"I'm sure it is a problem in collegiate baseball with so much money to be made in professional baseball," O'Connor said.
Many athletes are also continually linked to steroids without any substantial proof.
"I would not want to speculate [on steroid use at other schools]," O'Connor said. "One of the problems is that someone hits a home run and everyone starts to speculate that they are on steroids."
While Major League Baseball has recently implemented a new steroid procedure, collegiate baseball does not have a comprehensive steroid policy in place. Despite the high price tag, O'Connor firmly approves of a new comprehensive steroid testing in baseball.
While baseball often headlines the recent steroid debate, swimming has had its own history of steroid use as well. Strict testing from two independent sources strives to limit the amount of steroid use in collegiate swimming. Both La Féderation Internationale de Natation (the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming, according to the FINA website) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency test collegiate swimmers for performance enhancers. Aside from random testing, all swimmers ranked in the top fifty must fill out locator forms so they can be tested at any time.
Virginia swimming coach Mark Bernardino takes pride in maintaining a culture devoid of steroids. When asked his opinion of keeping steroids out of his program, Bernardino said, "I do not want anyone on my team that uses them, period."
