Twelve Major League Baseball Players Suspended for PEDs

While it’s been made clear that substances and other similar methods are strictly prohibited in professional sports, athletes are still caught and penalized year after year. This summer, several MLB players have accepted 50-game suspensions for violating baseball’s drug policy.

 

What are PEDs?

Performance-enhancing drugs, commonly referred to as PEDs, are substances abused by athletes in an attempt to increase their athletic performance. The term performance-enhancing drugs is most commonly used in reference to anabolic steroids, or “steroids” in general, but actually can be used to refer to several distinct classes of drugs. In fact, these suspensions have been based on findings from an investigation into a Biogenesis anti-aging clinic.

Twelve players suspended for PEDs

This year, several MLB players have been accused of obtaining PEDs from a rejuvenation clinic in Coral Gables, Florida. The information about the player’s involvement was revealed when an ex-employee revealed clinic records. The clinic, Biogenesis of America, was formerly an anti-aging clinic that is now defunct.

The first suspension was given to Ryan Braun for the Milwaukee Brewers for the remainder of this season. The largest suspension was then given to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez with a total of 211 games. Twelve additional players were then given 50 game suspensions without the right to appeal.

Effects of performance enhancing drugs

The use of steroids and PEDs have possible physiological and psychological side effects that have the potential to impact any user. In this case, the players are abusing human growth hormones which can have the following physiological side effects:

• Crippling arthritis

• Diabetes and tumors

• High blood pressure and heart failure

• Loss of vision

• Severe headaches

Other than the use of PEDs potentially ruining an athlete’s professional career, there are also several health risks that go along with the use of human growth hormone and other performance enhancing drugs.