5 Pro Athletes Who Got Caught Using Steroids
- Lance Armstrong
- Jose Conseco
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Marion Jones
- Anderson Silva
In the modern area of sports competition, athletes who use steroids have been more prevalent than ever before. Whether looking to get an advantage in competition or desiring to be the greatest ever in their prospective sport, the use of steroids has been associated with many great athletes. Using this drug has been connected with much criticism, and sports analysts have debated the legitimacy of the accomplishments these individuals attained.
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Lance Armstrong
He was the king of the cycling world for years, dominating and eventually winning the Tour de France seven times consecutively. He was beloved by many fans because of his cancer diagnosis in 1996. Upon returning from his illness in 1996, Armstrong made a fierce comeback and revolutionizing the sport. During that time he was accused of doping allegations, but denied all claims. It wasn’t until a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey that he came clean and admitted his drug use as an athlete.
Jose Canseco
Jose Canseco was known as the individual who brought attention to the steroid epidemic in baseball. In 1988, he hit 40 home runs and stole 40 bases in a single season. Canseco was more known for becoming brutally honest as he even wrote a book entitled Juiced. He claimed much of the players in the MLB were using some type of performance-enhancing drug. During the 90s and early 2000s we saw some truly remarkable records broken in the game. As Canseco claimed throughout his book, these accomplishments were achieved by athletes who used steroids.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
As the true legend of bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger popularized the sport to a nearly unthinkable level. He won the coveted Mr. Olympia numerous times in a row. Like Conseco, he was very honest about his steroid use during his prime athletic years. In a 2005 interview with George Stephanopoulos, he stated “no regrets” about using steroids, as he claimed it was during an experimental time with a doctor’s guidance (The Associated Press, 2005). Competitive bodybuilders of the modern era are almost always associated as athletes who use steroids. Schwarzenegger’s time may have been less controversial, but steroids were still being used.
Marion Jones
While steroids can often be thought of as only a male issue in sports, females have also been associated with the drug usage. According to The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, female steroid use is on the rise. Marion Jones achieved great success in Sydney capturing five medals in the 2000 summer Olympics. During that time she became widely popular and was viewed as a world-renowned star. She longed denied the accusation of steroid usage, but eventually admitted to using the drugs. The International Olympic Committee would eventually withdraw her Olympic medals showing that steroid use by athletes can carry a serious repercussion.
Anderson Silva
Few other sports can carry the intense physical requirements of mixed martial arts. Anderson Silva was the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship with 16 consecutive wins. His extreme power and unique fighting style made him a formidable opponent in the cage. He was banned from the sport for one year and paid a hefty fine for his involvement with steroids. As a result, his career and reputation was diminished greatly. Now 43, his days of returning to greatness is highly unlikely.
Individuals are always searching for ways to get an edge in competition. Athletes who use steroids all have different reasons for using the drugs, but it will always remain controversial.
