Balls to steroids

If you think the short-term benefits of steroid use outweigh any long-term fuck-ups they might cause, you're probably right. But if you're the sensible sort and are foolish enough to think living a long, less than utterly indulgent life is the way to go, you might want to consider this: If you were looking for a single phrase guaranteed to deter men from taking anabolic steroids "testicles the size of peanuts" would appear to fit the bill. This significant shrinkage was suffered by the body builder Steve Michalik after prolonged misuse of these drugs. Steve found himself in early middle age, having already suffered a heart attack and a stroke, with "the testosterone level of a 12-year-old girl" alongside the Lilliputian reproductive equipment; and whereas miniaturisation on this scale in, say, a chocolate bar might be called fun size Steve was clearly finding his low testosterone/shrunken gonad combo anything but fun. That's an extract from Martin Kelner's story in The Guardian on steroid use among body builders. You decide. Chicks, money and fame when you're young or good-sized balls and rock and roll when you're old.