Performance Enhancing DrugsWhen most people think of performance enhancing drugs, the first thought that comes to their mind is illegal ones 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 in turn 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. The? Husker power? the strength program uses creatine, where it is meticulously measured and poured onto the contours of the intended athlete (Gregorian 1). It is also reduced by 25% for professional baseball, basketball and hockey players and also by 50% for NFL players (Gregorian 1). Androstenedione, also known as andro, is a synthetic chemical that is turned into testosterone by the kidneys (Scruff 1), and while it is currently legal, it is on its way to becoming illegal. It has met two of the three requirements to be a steroid and testing is being done on the third, and if it ?passes? the third will be considered a steroid and will become illegal. It has also been banned in professional tennis, the Olympics, and the NFL (Regan 2). Furthermore, there are also illegal ones such as steroids. Another drug little known to most of the public is erythopoietin, commonly called EPO. EPO stimulates the body's production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to the muscles and all other parts of the body (Swift 2). Another is growth hormones, which help muscles recover faster after a workout (Swift 2). A drug guru for some of the best cyclists in the world who have had a? pensioners stated that “in the 1970s the most commonly used drugs were amphetamines; in the 1980s anabolic steroids and cortisone; and in the 90s, growth hormones and EPO? (Swift 12). One sad thing about athletes today is that in 1995, 198 athletes were interviewed. 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 that they would win. Of the 198 respondents, 195 said yes and only 3 said no. So the same people would be 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 the paper......h the best team is. Works Cited: Bamburger, Michael. ?Over the limit.? Illustrated sport. April 14, 1997: 60+. Dear Researchers. Sirs Knowledge Source Millard South High School Library, Omaha NE. November 16, 2000. www.sirs.com.Irving, Carter. ?High school athletes play with health.? Kansas City Star. 20 Oct. 1999: D1+. Dear Researchers. Sirs Knowledge Source Millard South High School Library, Omaha NE. November 16, 2000. www.sirs.com.?Pharmaceutical official says Andro is classified as a steroid.? Las Angles Times. June 27, 2000: 2. Lib. Millard South High School Lib. Omaha, NE. 16 November 2000. www.elibrary.com. Gregorian, Vahe. ?The muscular struggle.? St. Louis Post. May 31, 1998: 5. ElectricLib. Millard South High School Lib. Omaha, NE. November 16, 2000. www.elibrary.com.Regan, Tom. ?Growing clash over drugs in sport.? Christian Science Monitor. August 12, 1999: np Sirs Knowledge Source Millard South High School Library, Omaha NE. November 16, 2000. www.sirs.com.Swift, E.M. ?Drug Pedal.? Illustrated sport. July 5, 1999: 60-60. Source SirsKnowledge Millard South High School Library, Omaha NE. November 16, 2000..