As a fitness trainer I find that in most articles and pieces of news regarding performance enhancing drugs, the description of their side effects is too superficial. Like smoking, only stating that it increases the risk of cancer is not enough to stop the phenomenon.
A better way to raise awareness on how harmful these substances can be, is to share the story of a woman whose life has completely changed because of steroid abuse.
Heidi Krieger is one of the 10'000 East German athletes "used as machines" in a State-sponsored attempt to turn East Germany in a sport power able to outclass both the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
In 1979 she enrolled in the Sports School for Children and Youth in Berlin, which was connected to the East German secret police (Stasi) through the Dynamo Sports Club.
At only 16 Heidi started being given what she thought were "vitamins"; she didn't know that she was taking the steroid Oral-Turinabol together with birth control pills. Six months later she began feeling "like a stuffed goose" and by the age of 18 she weighted 220 lbs., had a deep voice and mannish appearance. Heidi felt uncomfortable in her own body, a body that no longer belonged to her and made her the object of embarrassing comments when walking down the streets of Berlin. The shot-put was the only way for her to fit in, so she kept on swallowing the round, blue pills her coaches gave her and in 1986 she became European champion.
But a workout regimen that contemplates lifting more than 100 tons of weight in a two-weeks period cannot be endured, in fact damaged knees, hips and back ended her career in 1991. And that's not all: the trainers and coaches she trusted pushed her in a certain direction leaving her no choice over the most important thing.
"I didn't have control" Heidi stated. "I couldn't find out for myself which sex I wanted to be".
Notwithstanding her heterosexuality, the damages done by doping left her no choice and in 1997 Heidi Krieger became Andreas Krieger, a man who struggles with constant hips and tights pain and has to undergo a hormone therapy every three weeks. Not to mention the fear he has to develop cancer.
Heidi never even realized that her gold medal was a fraud before the sordid truth came up after the reunification of Germany in 1989, she had no choice over the use of steroids. But if she had one I am sure she would have chose health over a medal.
Federico Barone
KIN 577
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