Should Steroids Be Legal? (Diving Into the Pros and Cons)

There are several good arguments to support that steroids should be legalized.

But there are just as many that highlight the serious dangers of taking performance-enhancing drugs without a medical need for them.

I’ll get into the detailed arguments shortly, but there are some that I want to highlight first.

Researchers in this area have found that the main reasons for legalizing steroids are less abuse and the availability of safer products [1].

They often point to Mexico, where steroid drugs are available without a prescription in pharmacies [2].

Despite this, there’s no evidence that steroid use and abuse are higher in Mexico than in America.

On the other hand, doctors point to serious health impacts even when steroid effects are monitored by medical professionals. It’s not just the abuse that causes organ failure and mental health issues [3].

Before I get into some more details of all the reasonable arguments, let me first address the background of where the steroid bans started.

Steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs are banned in sports because of their dangerous side effects and the unfair advantage it gives to the user [4].

The effects were known for decades, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that the Olympic committee started taking a much more targeted approach in terms of banning anabolic steroids [5].

Since then, mandatory and random drug test processes have expanded, but it still hasn’t stopped regular doping scandal news.

From Ben Johnson in the 80s to Lance Armstrong’s revelations about his Tour De France achievements, there’s no shortage of scandals.

While having a level playing field is certainly a very important reason not to make steroids legal, the pressing issue is the potential side effects [6]. 

Here’s the problem, even when you take steroids to enhance performance, and your intake and reactions are monitored by a doctor, there are still very high chances of ending up with life-altering health problems.

And if a doctor or pharmacist recommends that athletes stop taking steroids because of such conditions, they’ll probably turn to the same illegal sources again.

Related: Why Are Steroids Illegal?

No matter how much drug enforcement and punishment increase, there are huge monetary incentives for people to sell performance enhancers illegally.

Even if the guy who sells it at the gym is not a violent criminal, he probably sources the steroids from very shady organizations, including drug cartels.

So, when athletes can go to a licensed pharmacy to buy steroids legally, there’s no revenue for criminal organizations.

4. Less Illegal Activity

Since there will be no more incentive for criminal organizations to sell steroids on the underground market, it will have an immediate impact on the level of criminal activity around sports.

It will also mean less policing power needs to be directed at pro athletes and their suppliers, whether it’s in Major League Baseball, Basketball, athletics, or boxing.

The theory is that this will allow law enforcement agencies to focus more money and effort on other criminal activities.

There are many health risks associated with taking all types of steroids.

Whether they are corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and injury or anabolic steroids to build muscle and athletic performance, the body can show some serious symptoms.

Studies have shown that athletes who don’t have doctors monitor their health during repeated steroid cycles can develop serious kidney conditions and even organ failure [8].

Proponents of legalization argue that doing so would make sure that a medical professional monitors these side effects, and that would reduce the chance of a steroid problem becoming a lasting health effect.

6. Simplifies Testing and Reduces Costs

Drug testing in sports started decades ago and has evolved into very significant urine, saliva, and blood testing methods.

And the more types of drugs, including new steroids and synthetic versions of human growth hormone, you test for, the more complicated and costly those tests become.

Removing certain drugs from the banned list should simplify the process a lot. Olympic athletes and other sports stars could still end up testing positive for certain drugs, but the list would be a lot more manageable.

It would also make it easier for athletes to get access to certain drugs for legitimate medical reasons without having to worry about how it will affect their careers.

In some cases, athletes have taken over-the-counter and prescription medication, not knowing that one of the ingredients was banned under a different name.

Performance-enhancing drugs have many known side effects, but if it becomes easier for young adults to take steroids, then they are open to much more severe and lasting effects [10].

They say Tour De France winners start dreaming of the day when they are training in their teens.

And if these teens know that there are shortcuts to get them into the professional circles sooner, then they could be taking on risks that have serious impacts on their health years from now.

At those young ages, athletes should be taking a safe approach to allow their bodies to grow naturally.

4. Sends The Wrong Message

Performance-enhancing drugs also send a very bad message to the public. Sports athletes are supposed to be role models that show that hard work and dedication got them a world title or gold medal.

The message shouldn’t be that choosing the right combination of drugs and destroying your health in the process is how to win.

"Of course we want to keep the sport clean. It says 'bodybuilding,' not 'body-destroying.' It's bodybuilding. Of course we want to go in that direction."

- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Former Mr. Universe

Getting into any professional sports like Major League Baseball, Basketball, golf, or swimming is a big enough challenge.

But when you add a drug race into the mix, then there will be many talented athletes that simply can’t afford the best and safest drugs and medical advice.

These athletes will then either end up being excluded or will resort to taking steroid risks that lead to more problems.

The right thing for all sports is to make merit the primary reason for succeeding and getting to a professional level.

And while there are many barriers that favor certain privileges, steroid drugs should not become another one.

6. Uncertain Long-Term Damage

And finally, most steroids are designed for short-term use. There are some studies on long-term impacts, but they don’t paint a rosy picture [11].

In the absence of such further research, it would be difficult for athletes to accept that they can use performance enhancers only for a short time.

Or else they will end up taking huge risks with the unknown of spending an entire career going through many steroid cycles.

Igor Smelyansky, double board-certified interventional pain management physician and owner of Omega Pain Management, shared that prolonged use of non-steroidal painkillers could be correlated with various issues.

He cited research studies indicating that NSAIDs can inhibit the body’s ability to build up muscle tissue (anabolism) and hinder strength gains.

Yes, athletes are already taking such risks, but it’s not as easy as saying that these drugs are no longer banned and assuming that all users will take a careful and responsible approach.

Related Articles:

• How Do Anabolic Steroids Affect the Brain?
• Do Anabolic Steroids Shut Down Testosterone?