Teen athletes waking up to dangers of steroids

Published: 2005-03-24

GENEVA, N.Y. (CNS) -- A few feet could mean the difference between a home run and a long fly ball. How far would you go to gain that extra distance? Often far enough to compromise your health and ethics, judging from the ongoing steroid flap in the major leagues, involving some of baseball's biggest stars. If these athletes aren't satisfied with their immense God-given talent, what's to keep young athletes from emulating Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and others by taking steroids as well? Not much, apparently. An article late last year in Newsweek magazine claimed that 300,000 American students in grades eight through 12 use steroids. Bob Castor, 17, admits he was once tempted to go this route. But he had a change of heart after Ken Caminiti, the National League's most valuable player in 1996, died last October at age 41. In 2002 he became the first current or former major league player to admit to illegal steroid use. "I think (Caminiti's death) should have been a wake-up call," said Castor, a junior at DeSales High School in Geneva who plays in the Saints' renowned varsity baseball program.

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