Sports stars and athletes are always looking for a leg up on the competition. Whether it’s putting extra time in the gym, eating the right nutritional products, or trying out training routines, athletes will try almost anything to improve their talents.
But sometimes they can take it too far.
Performance-enhancing drugs have been around forever—caffeine is nothing new, after all. But ever since the rise of anabolic steroids, the modern international sports arena has become something of an arms race, as athletes vie to get a competitive edge before regulators can catch them in the act. Doping isn’t without risks—when P.E.D. users do get caught, the “cheater” label can be nearly impossible to shed—but even the specter of drug use can tarnish the spirit of competition and even inspire amateur copycats in rec leagues and high school sports teams.
