Guest column: Steroids Era in Sports

By Jason McNaughton

It's safe to say that we are currently in the steroids era in sports. But is that a bad thing? Think of the names Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, Rodriguez and what they have contributed to sports. The sad reality is that the steroids era has been by far the most exciting era in history. Never before have players been breaking and chasing records like in today's game.

The only unfair thing I see about steroids is that they aren't available to everyone. With numerous superstars in the news, you can't help but think how many other players are using steroids but just haven't been caught. Players seem to be one step ahead of sporting commissions and using drugs that are not yet being tested for. Since players are still able to get around drug tests, then allow every player the right to use steroids to even the playing field for all players.

Steroids will continue to be prevalent with athletes in the near future because of the dream they have had since they started playing sports, which is to be the best. The natural competitiveness instilled in successful athletes will drive them to become better than other players and that will involve steroids. If a player is willing to sacrifice his long-term health to be a superstar today, why not let him do it? Players using steroids are also beneficial to the spectators as well. Steroids turns athletes into super humans that are able to run faster, and become stronger than every imagined.

However, if legalizing steroids to even the playing field is not the plan for the future of sports, then harsher punishments for steroid users should be made. Harsher punishments could include banishing the player from the sport, and/or giving back the salary the player made while using steroids. It's sickening to watch high-profile players like Rodriguez use steroids and only getting a slap on the wrist, and continue to make $28 million a year. Steroids need to either, be legalized to even the playing field, or make punishments for steroid users more severe .

(Jason McNaughton is a junior at USC and a member of the men's tennis team.)