Athletes Essay Research Paper Do athletes engage — страница 2

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performance-enhancing drugs primarily from sources outside athletic programs, for example from friends, relatives, dealers, or even fans. ?Athletes who admitted using anabolic steroids within the past year indicated that they received them from athletic trainers at their own schools or places of work from people who they trust? (Albrecht, 9). Much possible reasons for college athletes to take socially used drugs is to make them feel better, for social use, and to help deal with college stress both in the fields of academics and athletics. Although the drug abuse in Division I schools has decreased from an 87% to a 79% since 1989, there is still a large room for improvement. In the other hand an increase appeared to take place in both Division II and Division III. Division III

athletes reported the highest percentage of alcohol and marijuana use (compared to division I and II. Figures were not found). They also reported the highest amount of cocaine use. Division II athletes reported a higher percentage of cocaine and crack use. One main reason for the inconsistency in the figures varying from Divisions could have to do with the fact that a stricter drug testing policy is enforced for those who play Division I. And another reason could be that these athletes might have more to loose then a Division II and Division III athlete. If college student athlete was to fail their drug test, punishment can be very severe. Although sports are the same at every school, the punishment varies from class to class. In Division III and II athletics, athletes are not

tested unless they have the opportunity to play in national championships or make the regional. Division I athletes are tested periodically with random testing thrown in occasionally whether in game season or not. Also Division I athletes could have more to loose than a Division III athlete. Division III athletes are not given the chance to receive athletic funds or scholarships. Without having the chance to receive athletic scholarships students don?t have the risk of being dismissed from school for not participating in their sport. In the case of Division I athletes where it becomes more like a job, the students must maintain a certain grade point average, remain physically healthy and attend practices without excuses. If these following guides are not followed students

scholarship could be taken away and dismissal from the sport or even the school may take place. There?s a belief that the use of illegal drugs and performance-enhancing drugs, and abuse of alcohol constitute a threat to the integrity of intercollegiate athletics. It also creates a danger to the health and the careers of the student-athlete. As soon as a student athlete joins and decides to participate in an inter-collegiate team, the war begins for the coaches and their staff to keep their players on the right track and not let them get caught up in the state of mind that every athlete is more likely to engage in the drug abuse than non-athletes. And also that drugs are not the answer to a lot of their questions. To prevent the problem a lot of universities around the world have

adopted programs to educate their student-athletes to the personal risks and dangers of drug use and abuse. Another main focus of these programs is to try to prevent the involvement before it becomes a problem. And if a problem does occur, try to provide treatment, and rehabilitation. Therefore they can detect the problem at an early stage. Although the odds are against the probability of making a drug free inter-collegiate program, it?s a good attempt to try to minimize the use or abuse of drugs by any student-athlete. Some athletes are more prone to abuse steroids than are others. It?s an obvious fact that football players have the highest rate of steroid abuse, because of the fact that their game has more to do with strength use than others. The higher the level of competition

is the more chance there is to find an athlete abusing drugs. The effect of steroids might be good in the beginning, but the lasting effects can be crucial to ones own image. Now that steroid use has been prohibited by almost all-legitimate sporting organization, urine testing just prior to the athletic event has become commonplace. Although many athletes attempt to avoid steroid detection, it?s usually not worth it in the end. The use of drug tests to test students for drug and alcohol use is a new technique used by schools today. ?After undertaking previous prevention efforts that proved ineffective in stopping the increase of drug use, the policy of random drug testing was adopted, along with very detailed procedures to ensure the accuracy of the testing, while minimizing it?s