My own opinion
This is excellent topic raised by hive Ghana community,you raise an excellent point
There seems to be a double standard when it comes to steroids. In the world of professional and amateur sports, the use of performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids is strictly prohibited and heavily penalized. Athletes face bans, suspensions, fines, and loss of achievements if caught doping with steroids. The health risks like heart problems, liver damage and mood disorders are well-documented. Steroids are considered cheating in athletic competition.
However, in the fashion and beauty spheres, using steroids or related compounds to accelerate physical changes is surprisingly common and even glamorized at times. Models, actors, and others seeking a perfect physique often turn to these drugs to help them get cut, shredded or bulky beyond what genetics alone allow for. Rather than condemnation, they may receive praise and envy for their cosmetically enhanced looks.
This dichotomy points to an inconsistency in cultural attitudes. Why are steroids justifiable for more aesthetic aims like an attractive body, but morally reprehensible for performance gains in sports? The health risks remain the same, regardless of context. Some argue adults should have autonomy over their bodies and what substances they take, provided they are informed. Others say all non-medical steroid use should be discouraged equally.
In my opinion, steroids are highly risky whether used for athletics or aesthetics. Their long-term physical and mental side effects are real. However, adults should have the right to make decisions about their own healthcare and bodies with proper education on the dangers. Banning performance enhancers protects fairness in sports, but how we judge recreational use merits more nuance. Rather than shame those who use steroids for looks, compassion and persuasion through education seem more ethical. The same health risks confront us all.
In the end, banning steroids in professional sports while tolerating their use in fashion sends a confusing message. We cannot pick and choose when to be concerned about public health and ethics. A thoughtful, principled analysis requires looking beyond knee-jerk reactions and judgments. There are rarely simple solutions, but open conversations can bring more understanding. What matters most is helping those at risk make informed choices, not just condemning their actions.
Part of the controversy stems from cultural values prizing certain looks and achievements over others. Striving for athletic excellence is viewed as noble, while pursing a flawless physique can be dismissed as superficial vanity. But who determines which goals are valid? For some, achieving a cover model body boosts self-esteem as much as winning a medal does for athletes. Should we judge others’ motivations?
Another factor is commercial interests at play. The sports world doesn’t want performances tainted by allegations of doping. But the massive fitness, beauty and supplement industries benefit from consumers striving for physical ideals rarely attainable without pharmaceutical help. This likely influences how steroid use is portrayed in each context.
Gender also plays a role. Male athletes face greater stigma around steroid use, as it conflicts with ideals of natural masculine power. But women using steroids to become svelte or curvy aligns with feminine beauty standards. Are male and female steroid takers judged differently?
Of course, the biggest concern remains health. Weighing risks and benefits of steroids should be a private discussion between patient and doctor, not decided by institutions. People deserve bodily autonomy and education on consequences, free of moral judgments.
Removing the shame around controlled steroid use could lead to clearer guidelines for safer use. Regulation is ultimately better than prohibition. Many shun doctors out of fear of condemnation, self-medicating in dangerous ways instead. A less polarized approach could save lives.
In the end, our bodies are highly personal. Judging others’ choices often does more harm than good. Offering empathy, creating space for open dialogue and pushing for regulation over outright bans seems the most ethical way forward. People’s motivations are complex. But health education and harm reduction should be the shared priority.
Thank you for reading my post
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