Anabolic steroids should not be made legal

Some amateur and professional athletes take anabolic steroids and hormones to help them increase muscle size or erythrocyte count and thus to help them perform better in the athletic competition. The use of anabolic steroids and hormones inprofessional sports is illegal. Proponents of such laws argue that anabolic steroids have severe side effects and as such should be outlawed. They point to multiplestudies which show that taking anabolic steroids has a negative impact on individual’s physical, emotional, and social health. Opponents of such laws argue that anabolic steroids should be legal since theysimply level the playing field. They point out that certain individuals living at higher altitudes may naturally have higher levels of erythrocytes than general population and as such they may be able to run greater distances without muscle fatigue. They argue that individuals should be allowed to take artificial erythropoietin in order to bring their erythrocyte count to the same levels as these athletes in the process leveling the playing field. Should anabolic steroids be made legal and their use up to the discretion of individual athletes? Why or why not? Chose a side on this issue and use specific facts and examples to defend your position