“Natty” is short for “natural bodybuilding.” It refers to a person who chooses not to use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to gain an advantage in the sport. Of course, there are many different reasons why athletes might choose this route. Still, steroids and other PEDs have thrust themselves into the public consciousness over recent decades, so many chemicals will inevitably occupy a prominent place in this discussion.
Steroid Use: A Brief Background
Athletes discovered long ago that certain substances could enhance their appearance or performance, even if only temporarily. Thus began the experimentation with substances obtained from various pharmacological sources—some of the dubious legality—in hopes of gaining the requisite edge over their competition. The use of steroids in sports is controversial, leading to strict testing programs within various athletic organizations. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was among the first to implement stringent guidelines regarding drugs in sport, an effort that soon spread throughout most major sporting events. The National Football League (NFL) is another notable example, having implemented its own set of performance-enhancing drug regulations in 1987 after quarterback Mark Gastineau tested positive for banned stimulants while playing for the New York Jets during the 1986 season. Since then, many athletes have been caught using substances prohibited by state athletic commissions and individual sports leagues/organizations; some development in the law has also forced athletes to take more precautions when using PEDs. Today, there are considerable penalties for using banned substances in most sports, including expulsion from athletic competition, suspensions of varying lengths depending on the sport and importance in question, forfeiture of prize money/trophies, loss of future endorsements, etc.
Since then, many athletes have been caught using substances prohibited by state athletic commissions and individual sports leagues/organizations; some development in the law has also forced athletes to take more precautions when using PEDs. Today, there are considerable penalties for using banned substances in most sports, including expulsion from athletic competition, suspensions of varying lengths depending on the sport and importance in question, forfeiture of prize money/trophies, loss of future endorsements, etc. As a result, today’s athletes attempt to beat the system by using banned substances in a “cycle,” which usually lasts between 6 and 12 weeks. During that time, athletes alternate between taking steroids and various performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and stopping just short of testing positive for these items; they then stop taking them before the test results come back. This practice is called “stacking” when it involves multiple steroid doses used in conjunction with one another or when it refers to taking different kinds of PEDs at once.
As a result, today’s athletes attempt to beat the system by using banned substances in a “cycle,” which usually lasts between 6 and 12 weeks. During that time, athletes alternate between taking steroids and various performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and stopping just short of testing positive for these items; they then stop taking them before the test results come back. This practice is referred to as “stacking” when it involves multiple steroid doses used in conjunction with one another or when it relates to taking different kinds of PEDs at once
When it comes to detection in sports through testing, are various ways this may be done. This may include blood tests, urine tests, and saliva tests. Urine testing is the most common method used by sports organizations because it can determine whether a banned substance has been ingested within a certain period. Blood testing is also standard for this reason; some argue that it’s more effective, though. Finally, saliva testing can be beneficial since it can identify anabolic steroid use as early as 2-3 days after ingestion (blood tests check for steroids anywhere from 1-2 weeks after ingestion).
The National Football League (NFL) is another notable example, having implemented its own set of performance-enhancing drug regulations in 1987 after quarterback Mark Gastineau tested positive for banned stimulants while playing for the New York Jets. However, the NFL’s policy differs from other major professional sports leagues in that it does not publicly disclose the specific substances players test positive for.