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13 CHAPTER ONE: WHAT ARE PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS?

There was one problem with Armstrong’s accomplishments—he cheated. Armstrong was injecting himself with performance-enhancing drugs, or PEDs. In 2013, Armstrong admitted taking the male sex hormone testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) to boost his performance. He also admitted using EPO, or erythropoietin, a hormone that increases the amount of oxygen flowing to a person’s muscles. EPO is supposed to give endurance athletes like Armstrong a competitive boost. In addition to taking these banned substances, Armstrong also admitted he had used oxygen-boosting blood transfusions . Many people had suspected that Armstrong was using PEDs. Their suspicious were confirmed by a report by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which tests American athletes for PEDs. Armstrong, once the Superman of cycling, was stripped of his seven Tour de France victories and the Olympic bronze medal he had won at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. He was also kicked out of cycling, becoming a pariah in the sport he once dominated. Armstrong’s dramatic fall came after years of steadfastly denying he used PEDs. Not only did Armstrong lose his medals, championships, and awards, but he also lost his reputation. Sadly, Armstrong is not alone. Thousands of professional and amateur athletes, including teenagers, use illegal steroids or other PEDs. It’s a win-at-no-cost attitude that can have dire consequences. Despite the laurels and awards, Armstrong put himself at great risk. Long-term use of PEDs can create myriad physical and psychological problems that could end in death.

THE DESIRE TO WIN

Athletes take PEDs in the hopes of gaining a competitive edge. The drugs allow athletes to train harder and longer. As a result, they become faster and stronger. However, PEDs are banned by professional sports