The Dominican Society of Pediatric Endocrinology warned on Wednesday, 23 May 2018, on the increase in demand for performance enhancing substances by young athletes whose ages vary between 11 and 14 years. The society expressed its regret that the parents of these minors are those who come to the doctors’ offices to request the approval of the substances that can even cause death.
The warning comes from Dr. Elbi Morla, the president of the society, who warned that the substances can cause death and permanent injury and he recommended that the state apply new policy to avoid the problem becoming worse. He said that sports where these substances are used are baseball and football, with the latter being much practiced by young middle-class athletes. He noted that these substances are growth hormones, testosterone and other anabolic steroids used to increase performance.
He called public’s attention to the growing demand for the prohibited substances to increase performance by children. Dr. Morla expressed particular frustration with the parents themselves who take their children to clinics in search for this type of substance on the recommendation of trainers. He noted that many young athletes have died from the use of anabolic steroids, some of which are used to inject thoroughbred race horses. He further noted that these PED’s were also in great demand by persons between the ages of 18 and 25 who work out at different gymnasiums in the country.
The use of these medications is not controlled by the Ministry of Public Health. The doctors noted that one of the effects of these medications is erectile dysfunction.
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El Nacional
24 May 2018
