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Reactions Users split over role of ephedrine in sports deathsPosted: Sunday February 23, 2003 6:38 PMSI.com asked for your reactions about the ephedrine and its role in sports deaths after the tragic loss of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. Here's a sampling of what you had to say.
I have taken the same pills that Steve Bechler took before he died. There is no doubt in my mind that they not only contributed to his death, but if he had not taken them he would be with us today. They raise your heart rate, you don't eat at all, they make you sweat uncontrollably, and on top on that they make you very irritable. I think the two keys here are raised heart rate and not eating. I don't think that the body can take this especially with a pro athlete workout. They do help you to lose weight, but at what cost?
I have been physically active my entire life, and have never taken any supplements besides vitamins. About a year ago, after slacking off for a few months on my workout routine, I bought some ephedrine products to give me a boost. I took it for about a week or so before I stopped. The stuff is horrible. It was just like a slightly less potent methamphetamine (I don't even drink alcohol anymore, but know from the past). I was sweating under my armpits like I was in junior high, my head was pounding, and I was getting really irritable. The stuff made me feel like crap, and I went back to what I've always believed, that working out every day will get me all the results that I need.
I think that ephedrine, when taken as directed, is nothing more than a supplement to improve weight loss and improve workouts. I have been taking Ripped Fuel as is directed on the bottle for the past 3 months and have had no side effects whatsoever. I am not a professional athlete, but I do work out 5 days a week and consider myself a very active person, and I will continue to take Ripped Fuel to help me achieve the level of fitness that I desire.
I am so sick of everyone blaming ephedrine for everyone's death. Sportswriters place such an emphasis on this supplement that no one seems to look at an athlete's prior medical conditions or the way in which he is training. We also need to hold the athletes themselves responsible. It is not hard to follow the directions on the bottle. When I look at Rashidi Wheeler, Korey Stringer and now Steve Bechler, I notice the extreme conditions in which they were training. Stringer and Bechler more than anything were pushing themselves to hard. Do not come into camp overweight and you won't have to go on a strict diet program. I am an ephedrine user and an athlete at the same time. I have taken it for 3 years and have never noticed a problem. I take lower than the minimum dose per day and I do fine. All it takes is hard work and using common sense.
If athletes would have the discipline to get there butts in shape when they were suppose too, you wouldn't have this problem. I heard on TV that Mr. Bechler was out of shape coming into camp, there is no reason at 23 years old and being a professional athlete in being out of shape. If you look at the top players in any sport, they have the discipline to be in at least condition when they get to training camp. The press is always talking about a number of athletes and there offseason programs. This should give those athletes that are not in condition to get their butts in gear. This should be a major wake up call for all the lard asses in major sports.
In the case of any supplement, you need to know the side effects. Ephedrine is a stimulant. It speeds up your heart. Why on earth would you take something that speeds up your heart before practice? Ephedrine is also a diuretic. You must drink plenty of water to keep your body from dehydrating. These are not secrets known only to a few. Blaming the drug for his death (assuming that is what caused his death) is like blaming the strawberry that you ate, knowing that you were allergic to strawberries.
A true athlete is a person that has the ability to compete at a high level for an extended period of time. When an athlete decides to take these harmful drugs, they are diminishing their status. No longer are they using their God given abilities to rise above the masses. They cheat, trying to improve themselves. How can you call someone an athlete when they rely on a drug rather than their own abilities? In the eyes of the public it looks weak, in the eye of the athlete taking the drug; it could only mean that they think they are inferior in some way. What other reason would a person being paid hundreds thousand to millions of dollars think. They are a fraud, trying to take an easy way out. Living in a society in which we don't work, in a society in which we accept the easiest road rather than challenging and improving ourselves, we must realize the problems facing us. We must accept the difficulties in our lives and rise above them. When any man, athlete or non-athlete, chooses to ignore these difficulties and pick a path of convenience, we have not only diminished our personal character, but also the character of everyone we meet. This responsibly falls the greatest on athletes who influence so many.
If taking ephedrine was the difference between getting to the show and tooling around the minors, would you think twice about taking it? The governing body of MLB has to even the playing field to prevent these senseless tragedies. But if they can't control the steroid problem what makes you think they can control this?
If Steve Bechler's teammates knew enough to hide the ephedrine from his locker, how could the union not have known that this drug is dangerous?
I think that people are always looking to place blame on something other than the actual issue at hand. Most times people push their bodies to the limit, but many do not do it like some of these; dare I say idiots. Ok these guys took the substance called Ephedrine, but how many other people in this country take it and have no problems? It is a few people who ruin good things for everybody. I personally believe Bechler was an average minor player, and not good enough to be a major league player, even for the Devil Rays. I do not think the substance should be banned at all. The only reason a few drugs in this country are banned is because those with money and power do not use it and believe others should not use it. Do you ever wonder why alcohol or cigarettes are legal in this country? Don't they both kill people, the only problem is you do not see people pushing to ban those drugs do you? |
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