Dec 13, 2007 10:23 pm US/Central
Steroid Use Affects Young Athletes
Pressure To Perform Means Even Some High School Students Are Pushed Into Drug Use
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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The pressure to perform at a high level has spread to high school athletes, some of whom say they've had steroids pushed on them.
CBS
Sports superstars are heroes to kids, and they want to do what the pros do. And so, some of them believe steroids are a way to achieve greatness, even with the danger they pose.
And teenagers can get their hands on the performance-enhancing drugs if they want to get an edge.
As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, when it comes to young people talking about their major league baseball heroes on steroids, they have a lot to say.
"It's amazing to find out that you know, that many people, who you think don't do steroids and it's a fair game, really don't," said high school junior John Majewski. "It's not really a fair game. They're cheatin'."
Majewski and his friend Ryan O'Hayer, also a high school junior, have been playing baseball since they were in kindergarten. O'Hayer says it's crushing to hear some of the biggest names in the game have been relying on performance enhancing drugs to win individual honors.
"I guess it would send that message," O'Hayer said. "I mean, I'm not gonna take that message in and soak it up and start doing steroids."
But sadly, many teens across the nation do. In 2005, 672,000 students admitted using steroids. O'Hayer, just 16 years old, says he's been encouraged to take steroids at local gyms.
"I'd always turn them down, even go to a different personal trainer to help me out," O'Hayer said.
Hank Lott is a master pitching instructor at
Bash Sports Academy. The former minor league baseball player and major league scout says the revelations of steroid use can be looked at in a positive way.
"Now it's gonna give everyone who's interested in playing this game on higher levels an opportunity to do it fairly," Lott said.
Lott says he hopes this new information on steroid use will lead to greater levels of testing and counseling, not just for players in major league baseball, but for teens who want to take part in America's favorite pastime.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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