• Some people would argue that performance enhancing drugs are useful tools for boosting an athlete's ability. Others say they are just dishonest.

They're bigger. They're faster. They're stronger. They're today's athletes and in their search for something to help them bulk-up quicker and get a competitive edge, a few athletes here at W.F. West are turning to androstenedione (andro) and creatine monohydrate (creatine). But are these compounds legal in high school sports, and more importantly, are they safe?

In a statement issued August 27 of this year, the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) declared, "...school personnel and coaches should never supply, recommend or permit the use of any drug, medication or food supplement." As far as the legality of andro and creatine use at W.F. West, W.F. West Athletic Director Don Conway said the issue was "unadressed." He also said that use of either product was "a judgment of the individual."

Creatine is legal for use in all sports but andro is banned by the NCAA as well as the International Olympic Committee and many professional sports.

The coaches at W.F. West discourage the use of either andro or creatine because, according to football head coach Ivor Hoglund, "You don't know what's going to happen."

Many of the coaches are of the attitude that eating a good diet will give the same results as taking either andro or creatine. "In my opinion, if you eat right you should be ne," said wrestling and football coach Chris Gray. Wrestling head coach Doc Daniels also recommends a "good diet" rather than using creatine or andro.

The lack of conclusive research on either creatine or andro's long-term effects is a problem that worries many of the coaches. "I have not seen one researched study about creatine's long-term effects," said Hoglund.

The lack of research doesn't seem to bother the users, though. "I didn't really pay much attention to that," said wrestler and football player Alan Ulrich.

Andro user Tommy Dembinski was more concerned with the short-term effects. "I just want to get bigger," said Dembinski.

Creatine and andro users at W.F. West have almost exclusively good things to say about the supplements. "[Creatine] enables you to do more than you think you can," said football player and wrestler Ramon Coronel.

All of the creatine and andro users agree that both compounds give them more energy and cut recovery time dramatically. However, Ulrich said, "If you take too much you get nauseous." But he was quick to add, "If you just take the regular dose, then you'll be ne."

There is a lot of controversy surrounding both of the supplements, but mainly andro because critics argue that andro is simply a legal steroid, as it is converted into testosterone in the body. Steroids are also converted to testosterone in the body and this similarity has many people worried about the effects of its long-term use.

Many of the critics of creatine point out that because creatine is produced naturally in the body, problems could arise from unnatural exposure to the supplement. Creatine is found in meat and sh and is also produced by the kidneys and liver, and doctors fear that excess creatine in the body may cause slow deterioration of the kidneys. Other side effects that may be linked to creatine use include muscle cramping, intestinal pain, and diarrhea. It is believed that because creatine pulls water from the rest of the body and puts it into muscle cells it may also cause dehydration. That is one reason the sellers and manufacturers recommend drinking plenty of water.

Just how widespread is creatine use? According to Hoglund, "Supposedly every major university is doing it." Also using it are many professional sports stars, such as Mark McGuire, Brady Anderson, and Troy Aikman.

In the end, its up to the individual whether or not they want to use andro or creatine. However, it is recommended by the coaches and the suppliers of both products that before using any substance you read about it and look into it first.