One of the hottest topics in recent news has been the use of steroids by athletes. From talk radio to the best-seller list to the Senate floor, the controversy has only grown during the 2006 baseball season, as Barry Bonds continues his quest to surpass Babe Ruth and break Hank's home run record Aaron. While Bonds' case has certainly attracted more publicity, the issue is definitely not limited to baseball. The best-selling book "Game of Shadows" was written by two journalists who had spent months investigating top athletes in several sports, including Olympians such as track star Marion Jones. While it focuses largely on bonds, this meticulously researched bestseller also details how many other elite sports figures have been able to enhance themselves with illegal drugs while evading detection. (Fainaru-Wada) It would be foolhardy to dismiss this problem as a minor problem, or to pretend that with enough negative publicity and public condemnation, it will resolve itself. The entire sporting community must take a clear, consistent and proactive approach to completely eliminate steroid use from all forms of competitive sport. Let's consider why this is so important by taking a look at the history of steroids and their negative effects, both mental and physical. Otherwise. We will also consider how negative public perception has tarnished the reputations of many sports. What are steroids? Those most commonly used by athletes fall into the category of “anabolic steroids” and are defined by Merriam-Webster as: “…any group of usually synthetic steroid hormones that increase constructive metabolism and are sometimes abused by athletes in training to increase tempo.. . half of the document... effective policies. The action begins, but doesn't seem to go anywhere. After all, if these athletes were using illegal drugs, shouldn't they be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, just as anyone who uses a controlled substance illegally would be? Somehow this doesn't seem to happen, even though the FDA has classified steroids in this category since 1990. In conclusion, steroid use is a major problem that has heavily impacted many different competitive sports. From health problems to loss of fan confidence and even the possibility of lawsuits, steroids have ruined the enjoyment of sports on so many levels, and continue to do so. It is vitally important that all athletes, coaches and sports organizations recognize this fact. and continue to work together to try to solve the problem more effectively than they have been able to do so far.