During the last few months, one word has become associated with Major League Baseball. The word isn’t hit, home run, strikeout or bunt. It actually has nothing to do with the game itself. That word? Steroids.

Baseball has gone under the microscope lately, as allegations of steroid use have surfaced. Retired big-name players such as Ken Caminiti and Jose Conseco have admitted to using steroids to get bigger and stronger. Both players won MVP awards, and both admitted to taking steroids during their MVP seasons.

Congress decided recently to hold hearings to discuss the use of steroids in baseball. Several current and former players testified. Until two seasons ago, Major League Baseball did not even test for steroids.

Why is everyone making a big deal about the use of steroids in baseball? Because using steroids is dangerous. Though steroids may help players bulk up, players are often in terrible health when they retire. Caminiti died last year at 41. An autopsy report found steroids to be a contributing factor. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Caminiti admitted to using steroids and blamed them for the series of injuries he suffered.

“I’m still paying for it,” Caminiti said to Sports Illustrated. “My tendons and ligaments got all torn up. My muscles got too strong for my tendons and ligaments. And now my body’s not producing testosterone. You know what that’s like? You get lethargic. You get depressed. It’s terrible.”

It also seems that steroids are present at the college level as well.

After talking with a member of the KU baseball team who asked to remain anonymous, I found out that steroid use was becoming more and more prominent at the collegiate level.

“I have played with and against players who have taken steroids,” the player said. “I have not witnessed anyone take steroids, but guys have told me that they are doing it. I can notice a physical difference. They are bigger and stronger. It’s an obvious difference.”

The player said that athletes used steroids when they were stuck at a plateau and couldn’t move up.

For example, if a player is stuck in the minor leagues and can’t get past double-A, he might use steroids to give him that needed push toward the majors.

“I have not needed to take steroids, because I have had success at this level,” the player said. “If I got to a point, where I was stuck at a certain level, and couldn’t get any better, I would definitely consider taking them because they could help me get to the next level.”

Steroid use is so prominent in college athletics that this player said he could obtain steroids with ease if he wanted to do so.

“If I wanted to take steroids, I know who I could call to get them,” he said.

The NCAA currently tests players for steroids, but it is obviously not enough. The player said he was a member of a random NCAA steroids test, as well as a University-wide test. No Kansas players take steroids, he said. They are not tested in the offseason, however, which is when most of the players use steroids because they are able to get away with it.

Players take steroids to get bigger and stronger so they can make the Major Leagues. They want to make millions of dollars, and they weigh the risk of serious injury as less important that the risk of injury.

Steroid use has become more frequent among American youth as well. Players use steroids at younger ages as they look for that extra edge.

A study done by the National Youth Sports Research and Development Center in the fall of 2002 examined the use of steroids among American youth. Of the 1,553 youth athletes surveyed, approximately 1 percent of 10- to 14-year-old participants were using or had used anabolic steroids.

We need stricter steroids testing. The testing needs to be done in the offseason. Also, more tests need to be done throughout the year. The NCAA needs to scare these players from trying to sneak around the law and use these steroids. If we can eliminate steroid use in college, we can begin to eliminate steroid use in the professional ranks. Also, we need to inform our athletes about the dangers of steroids.

The study done by the National Youth Sports Research and Development Center showed that young athletes were not properly educated on the dangers of steroids.

More than a quarter of youth sports participants have received their knowledge of anabolic steroids from magazines or books, the study said.

If we plan on decreasing steroid use in the professionals, it starts with American youth. Tighten the testing and educate the young people on the dangers on steroids. Not only will it repair the integrity of Americas sports, it will help decrease injuries and save peoples lives. It’s a win-win situation.

Rains is a St. Louis freshman in pre-journalism.