Football (American) and Performance-Enhancing Drugs

When someone thinks an edge can be gained more quickly and easily, and he or she can earn respect, power, and money, some people are [Page 627]going to search for ways to gain that edge, no matter what the cost. In the sport of football in particular, the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) has been a concern since the late 1950s. Yet, the National Football League (NFL) did not begin to test players until the 1987 season, and it did not penalize players until two years later. Players received at least one drug test per season but could be tested up to six times per year.

Although PED use at the professional level is often related to keeping your job, most start using in high school. ...