How do drugs affect the lifestyle of sportspersons?

Misuse of drugs is what certain sportspersons do to enhance their performance.

They use narcotic analgesics, anabolic steroids, diuretics and certain hormones in sports to increase muscle strength and bulk and to promote aggressiveness and as a result increase athletic performance.

The side effects of using anabolic steroids in females include masculinisation (features like male), increased aggressiveness, mood swings, depression, abnormal menstrual cycles, excessive hair growth on the face and body, enlargement of clitoris, deepening of voice.

In males it includes acne, increased aggressiveness, mood swings, potential for kidney and liver dysfunction, breast enlargement, premature baldness, enlargement of the prostate gland.

These effects may be permanent with prolonged use, in the adolescent male or female, severe facial and body acne. Premature closure of the growth centers of the long bones may result in stunted growth.