Athletes have perpetually sought an advantage over their competitors.

The use of performance-enhancing substances in sports has a long history, dating back to the Ancient Greek Olympics, where athletes experimented with unconventional methods like consuming raw testicles to boost their performance. Much like modern athletes, these Greek Olympians were driven by the pursuit of cash prizes, fame, and prestige. While the methods employed by athletes today have evolved dramatically, the underlying motivation remains the same: the relentless desire to win.

The pressure from spectators to witness remarkable feats has cultivated a culture where performance-enhancing substances seem necessary. Fans crave faster sprinters, more formidable bodybuilders, and a surge in home runs. Athletes receive admiration when they shatter records, yet face public condemnation when caught using performance-enhancing drugs. Striking a balance can be challenging. Imagine a scenario where anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) were entirely eradicated from the NFL; the game's pace would likely slow down, and the bone-crushing collisions that fans have come to expect would diminish. If we look back at professional football games from the 1960s, before the widespread use of steroids, the sport appears noticeably slower, possibly resembling a contemporary high school game in many aspects.

Professional sports have evolved significantly over time. Athletes today are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. This evolution can be attributed to advancements in training techniques, improved nutrition, and the use of increasingly sophisticated supplements. However, it would be remiss to overlook the substantial role that performance-enhancing substances have played in the overall advancement of sports. While some argue that using such substances amounts to cheating, it can also be viewed as a means for athletes to level the playing field. Consider this: one male athlete may have a natural testosterone level of around 300, while another may possess levels upwards of 1,000. The athlete with the lower testosterone level faces a significant disadvantage in terms of recovery, muscle mass, and strength. Using testosterone to bridge this natural gap is generally not accepted. Conversely, altitude chambers are employed to simulate training in low-oxygen environments, thereby enhancing an athlete's oxygen capacity. In essence, this is not fundamentally different from an athlete injecting erythropoietin (EPO). While the World Anti-Doping Agency sanctioned the use of altitude chambers in 2006, EPO remains banned, leading to suspensions and even lifetime bans for its use.

Enhancement has become increasingly prevalent and acceptable in everyday life. Laser surgery corrects vision, and medications aid children in focusing better. The line between what is considered natural or normal is becoming increasingly blurred. Genetic profiling, commonly used to screen for diseases from birth, is becoming more widespread. The techniques utilized for genetic screening are likely to find applications in the world of sports. Gene therapy, capable of manipulating genes associated with muscle mass and sprinting speed, is on the horizon. This is referred to as gene doping, and it is banned in most sports. Importantly, it is nearly impossible to detect using conventional drug tests. As the methods for testing performance-enhancing drugs become more sophisticated, so do the methods employed by athletes to enhance their performance.

The way athletes sought performance enhancement several decades ago was relatively straightforward. Anabolic steroids were prominent in strength-based sports, while endurance athletes turned to EPO and a few other substances. However, the crackdown on steroid use in most sports has prompted athletes and trainers to explore alternative avenues for performance improvement, all while passing drug tests. While anabolic steroids continue to be used in many professional sports, the dosages and types of steroids have evolved. In the 1990s, MLB players could freely use a wide array of steroids at any dose without fear of failing drug tests. This has changed significantly. Testing is now more rigorous, and the consequences of a positive test are severe. Consequently, players have turned to using steroids with shorter detection times and at lower doses. To enhance effectiveness, various other performance-enhancing drugs like HGH, growth-hormone-releasing peptides, and a variety of peptides are being used in conjunction with lower doses of steroids to promote recovery and accelerate the healing of injuries.

Performance-enhancing substances have unquestionably provided athletes with an edge. Athletes can recover from injuries more swiftly today, thanks to advancements in medicine and the role of performance-enhancing substances. While some may perceive this as an unfair advantage, it is important to note that the prevalence of performance-enhancing drug use is relatively consistent across professional sports, resulting in a level playing field. Anabolic steroids did not make Barry Bonds a great baseball player; he was an outstanding player even before he considered using steroids. However, these substances did enhance his performance, allowing him to hit the ball farther and prolong his career. Since steroid use was widespread among players during Bonds' era, he could be regarded as one of the best baseball players of his time.

The idea of permitting performance-enhancing drugs in sports may sound unconventional, but it raises an essential question: what if these substances were allowed? Fans yearn to witness athletes who are bigger, faster, and stronger. The relentless battle against doping in sports has proven to be ineffective. Instead of constantly pursuing athletes with urine tests, sports organizations could consider a program that permits athletes to use steroids and other performance-enhancing substances prescribed by a team doctor. This approach could enhance athlete safety. Most athletes currently obtain steroids on the black market, often with limited knowledge of what they are consuming. They rely on advice from friends or trainers, which can lead to adverse consequences. If a team doctor oversaw this process, the athlete's health could be closely monitored. Professional athletes will always seek ways to enhance their performance, regardless of testing or policies. Steroid use will persist in the athletic world. Society has embraced enhancement across various domains but adopts a distinct stance when it comes to athletes.