Let's Just Legalize Steroids

Let’s put a stop to the controversy of steroids in sports right now—by making doping legal. “I see nothing unjust or wrong about professional athletes using chemical compounds and medical knowledge to improve their abilities and performance,” writes Kyle Munkittrick on Discover. “Let me rephrase that: there is nothing wrong with taking steroids.” Munkittrick agrees with cyclist Floyd Landis—who recently argued for legalization because, in essence, everyone’s doing it—but not for the same reasons.

When professional athletes use steroids, they don’t do it alone, in a dark basement, after getting the doping gear “from a shady fella who hangs out at the track after midnight.” It’s done as safely as possible, under the supervision of doctors, trainers, and nutritionist. Yes, “steroids are dangerous. But so are thousands of other prescription drugs for which we require doctor supervision,” Munkittrick concludes. “Let’s stop pretending that most professional athletes 1) aren’t doping and 2) that they aren’t under strict supervision when they do. Let em take ‘roids.”