“If you had to ask, you don’t have the right to know!” This was our creed. And yes, winning at all cost was my religion. 
My name is Greg Ryan and yes I had an addiction; to Sports Enhancement Drugs (SED) that is. For years I lived in denial, surrounded by people and a system than enabled me more than helped. SED’s are just as much of a part of any sport as Wheaties are for breakfast. You can deny by saying, “Well it’s not as bad as cocaine and HGH is not considered a steroid,” while others will claim it’s our nation’s fifth drug problem. All I can say is HGH, Steroids, Denial and Pride almost killed me!
Over the years, people would confront me and ask, “Are you taking steroids, are you juicing and my answer was always, NO.” Every time my thinking was, “If you even have to ask, you have no right to know.” In other words, if you knew that little about the system, the sport and what it takes to win, then I didn’t trust you enough to tell you the truth.
Close to Home
My cousin died of a steroid overdose at age of twenty-six, but that meant nothing to me; the same substance that killed 
him was going to save my life and make a career, so I thought. The needle continued to penetrate for years after Keith’s death and my rational grew to delusional proportions that something bad wouldn’t happen to me. It took a life threatening car accident to convince me to stop! I was lucky! I am not proud of my past, but it has given me a platform to voice my concern for those crippled by grandeur of winning!
NFL Human Grown Hormone (HGH) Testing
Starting this week the NFL has decided to start Human Growth Hormone (HGH) testing. Technically HGH is not considered a steroid, and the testing is a little more in depth than just a urine test. Why now?
The fourth, fifth amendment and the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) maybe have something to do with the waiting. Give the NFL some credit for trying at least from the public’s point of view. The question is, will it solve the problem of SED in sports? Knowing what I know, about what goes on behind the scenes is the much bigger issue. Oh you can say all you want outwardly, but if the system protects the athlete then nothing changes.
Random testing was done back then as well, however, we also had people in the system that protected us; protection such as, telling us when the tests would occur, giving others urine samples, taking other drugs to mask the drug for certain tests. By getting a heads up, you either stop or took more drugs. The higher up in the sport the more protection you had; matching the value you brought to the sport.
Money Talks
Let’s face it the end game is money and winning manufactures the green stuff. While publicly it all sounds well and good, 
but privately don’t let ANY thing get in the way of TV, butts in the seats and shirts on the backs of fans. Do we have a right to ask, sure, but to most in the system we don’t and never will. All sports are created equal when it comes to SED. Where ever you have competitive sports for money SED’s will be there.
Breakfast of Champions
Today, SED’s have reached down to as low as seventh grade and crosses over into the female arena as well. What you may be shocked at is whose doing these types of drug from; cheer leaders to those kids that just want to fit into a group; which was my case in the beginning. Don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s just a man’s issue or in selective sports, its not. Steroids and HGH are wide spread and as common as your typical morning breakfast. 
Do the Right Thing NFL
At the end of the day, I had to stand up and do the “Right” thing and tell the truth. Maybe this is one step closer for the NFL in doing the same; only time will tell. And yes if we the fans pay the salaries of those we watch, then YES we all have the right to know!
Fitting In is a book I wrote about the pressures of being accepted in modern age sports and the drugs those will take to win at all cost! 
Greg Ryan is an accomplished author, personal trainer, life coach and owner of Resolutions Preventative Health Care through Fitness for Seniors and Diabetics in St. Matthews. www.resolutions.bz
