Frankly, I couldn't care less if any of the basketball players use HGH or steroids. It doesn't affect me at all. I'd honestly rather just have the use be regulated and administered by doctors so at least when they are used, they are used in a much safer manner.
I have seen that opinion many times on this and other boards. Sounds harmless AND equitable on its face.
Hell, the argument goes, "a grown man should be able to put whatever he wants into his own body, and if everyone has access to it, and it's legal and one can choose to do it or not, what's the harm?" Plus, people have argued, "I like being entertained, and if a grown man chooses to use steroids (that carry substantial risk) and HGH (a naturally occurring substance with remarkable properties with few risks, but is very strictly regulated and scarce) and can jump higher and be stronger for it and therefore entertain me more, What's the harm?"
We are not in a vacuum, and hence the potential for harm is substantial. A terrible slippery slope off of which many college AND high school athletes will fall.
Assume everyone shares your opinion and that no one cares whether steroids or HGH (or any other PEDs maybe?? but I'm not including the MANY other PEDs right now) is used by pro basketball players.
The trickle down effect due to the competitive pressures brought to college players (to have a shot at the pros) and to high school students to get a Division I or even II scholarship would be staggering.
During the late 80s and 90s and early 2000s, I was a guidance counselor at a large urban HS in the Greater Boston area. The pressure on a lot of my athletes was huge then to bulk up and get faster and stronger, especially the football players. To some, that shot at a free education and maybe even making the pros (I had a few who did in baseball and football, none in basketball) was too enticing to pass up, and obviously, they didn't get those steroids legally. 16 and 17 year-olds introducing 'roids into their body is a nightmare. Acne, aggression, and the occasional 'roid rage in an adolescent is not a good thing.
And, make no mistake, in this messed up proposed world where steroids and HGH and whatever other PEDS one might proffer (because you know many other currently banned substances would be included) are available and used by all the pros, just like their sneakers, a huge amount of kids will use it, far more than now because it has the pro
imprimatur.
Oh, and given the scarcity and expense of HGH, no high school kids will be able to access it, so their PED of choice will definitely be something different.
Not what I hope happens.