Book excerpt: Drug abuse in sports is not a new phenomenon. It has been prevalent for many years and has been a significant threat to clean, fair competition. Public attention and media exposure has brought what was once a behind-the-scenes problem into the open. The tragic, untimely deaths of superb athletes has brought this taboo issue into sharper focus, and has made the general public gradually aware of the dangers of anabolic steroids and their alarming impact on the sports arena and society in general. Although initially confined to weightlifters and bodybuilders, anabolic steroid use and substance abuse has spread to virtually all areas of competition. The insidious nature of anabolic steroids is that their side effects are not as immediately evident as with recreational drugs. Thus the true long-term results are not recognized for the dangers they present, both physically and psychologically. These very accessible and addictive drugs, combined with the additive or sport-performance enhancement of 'ergogenic' drugs, present an ominous threat to our youth, having the potential to turn them into walking time bombs. This book documents and discusses the health aspects and ethical concerns surrounding this issue. -- from Foreword.