Performance Enhancing DrugsWhen most people think of performance enhancing drugs, the first thought that comes to mind is illegal drugs like steroids, but today, there are more non-illegal drugs like creatine and androstenedione for people today. Creatine is a chemical produced by the kidneys and found in meat products. It helps muscles recover after a workout, which helps athletes bulk up faster (Gregorian 5). Creatine is used by many of the nation's top college sports teams, such as Nebraska and Northwestern. “Husker Power”? The bodybuilding program uses creatine, where it is meticulously measured and poured to the contours of the designated athlete (Gregorian 1). It is also sucked and scarified by 25% of professional baseball, basketball and hockey players and by 50% of NFL players as well (Gregorian 1). Androstenedione, also known as andro, is a synthetic chemical that is converted into testosterone by the kidney (Scruff 1), and although it is currently legal, it is in the process of becoming so. It has met two of the three conditions to be a steroid and testing is underway for the third, and if it “passes” the third it will be considered a steroid and become illegal. It has also been banned in professional tennis, the Olympics and the NFL (Regan 2). Additionally, there are also illegal products such as steroids. A drug little known to the general public is also a drug called erythopoietin, commonly known as EPO. EPO stimulates the body to produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen to muscles and all other parts of the body (Swift 2). Another example is growth hormones, which help muscles recover more quickly after a workout (Swift 2). A drug guru for some of the world's best cyclists who had "strength"? The retreat said that “in the 1970s, the most commonly abused drugs were amphetamines; in the 1980s, anabolic steroids and cortisone; and in the 90s, growth hormones and EPO? (Live 12). The sad thing about athletes today is that in 1995, 198 athletes were surveyed. In the survey they were asked if they had been offered a banned performance enhancer with the guarantee that they would not be caught and would win. Of the 198 people surveyed, 195 answered yes and only 3 answered no. Then the same people were asked the same question, but they would also win every competition for five years, after which they would die from the side effects. Sti...... middle of paper ......h the best team is. Works Cited: Bamburger, Michael. “Over the edge.” Sports Illustrated. April 14, 1997: 60+.Sirs Researcher. Sirs Knowledge Source Millard South High SchoolLibrary, Omaha NE. November 16, 2000. www.sirs.com. Irving, Carter. “High school athletes play with health. » Kansas City Star. October 20, 1999: D1+. Gentlemen Researchers. Sirs Knowledge Source Millard South High School Library, Omaha NE. November 16, 2000. www.sirs.com.?Pharmaceutical executive says Andro is classified as a steroid.? Las Angles Times. June 27, 2000: 2. Electric Lib. Millard South Secondary School Lib. Omaha, NE. Nov. 16 2000. www.elibrary.com. Gregorian, Vahe. “Muscular wrestling. » Saint-Louis post. May 31, 1998: 5. ElectricLib. Millard South Secondary School Lib. Omaha, NE. November 16, 2000. www.elibrary.com. Regan, Tom. “Growing clash over drugs in sport”. Monitor of the.