Shot Through the Heart
Like most competitive athletes, in-line speed-skater Corey Gahan hoped fierce determination and hard training would give him the edge he needed to fulfill his dream of becoming the best in his sport.
But unlike most competitive athletes, Corey Gahan’s father insisted on supplying that winning edge, regularly injecting his son with steroids and human growth hormone, the same illegal substances at the heart of the ongoing major league baseball scandal. And unlike the pros, Corey started to receive the shots when he was just 13 years old.
In less than a year, Corey’s blood tests showed he had more than 20 times the normal testosterone level of an adult male. His father continued the shots. Corey says he felt “like I was doing something wrong.” But the teenager trusted his father.
By age 15, Corey was a national champion; at 16, a record-setter. On the rare occasions Corey lost, his father refused to speak to him. When he won, the paternal rewards included televisions, PlayStations, and an American Express gold card.
And then Corey failed a drug test. And another.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency suspended him for two years, and a criminal investigation was begun to determine who had supplied Corey with steroid shots. He was ordered to forfeit all the races he had won in the previous two years.
But the final shot was the one through Corey’s heart, when he did what he believed he had a responsibility to do. Having already lost his status as a sports champion, Corey Gahan lost his father, by turning him in to authorities.
James Gahan—Corey’s father—was sentenced to six years in federal prison. He is believed to be the first parent in the U.S. convicted of providing steroids to his child.
Tell us what you think—Was there any other way Corey Gahan could have done the right thing without implicating his father? Should the son share responsibility with the father?
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Comments
This happens more than you think.
His father was 100% wrong.
Anonymous | 1 year, 2 months ago
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TEACHER
IT IS GOOD BEING A MAN CORY – GREAT JOB – YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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Stop
Stop using steroids
sara | 1 year, 1 month ago
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concerned citizen
Based on this article, in and of itself is sad for the characters. But the person writing this article is not writing fact(maybe some is fact) but writing this article to sell and not for the truth. If you want the truth, It takes much more investigation then this small article. I cannot judge these people based on this article. It’s much more complicated. These are real people not characters. Through the media they are guilty till proven innocent. I thought in America “We are innocent till proven guilty”.
By the way, catebolic steroids are dangerous when used by itself and are deadly. When used along side anabolic steroids it is very powerful healing therapy and safe. Anabolics is what most people use in sports among other varieties of so called performance enhancing drugs, because it builds muscle and bone, which by the way is constantly being torn and broken down by athletes when they are performing their sports. We can’t forget “pain”, a constant in an athletes life. I can go on and on about this subject. Point is don’t judge our athletes on the articles written about them. By the way, under grueling training sessions and performing their sports some athletes stop producing their own testosterone. Just as female athletes stop their menstrual cycles under intense trainng and performance periods.
chris | 1 year, 1 month ago
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Wow, that's some messed up stuff
Wow, man, I was thinking about using steroids but after what I just read about you and your dad I totally changed my mind. I feel bad for you that you and your father. It teaches people a lesson not to do it.
Chris DeMarco | 1 year, 1 month ago
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I believe that is the only thing he could have done or else he would have been sentenced to jail instead of his father.
Dillon | 1 year ago
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Mother of 7
The father is the adult here, or supposed to be! This child does not share in the blame game. Children trust us as parents to have their best interests at heart. I cannot imagine how gut wrenching, heartbreaking it must of been to have the courage to do what this boy did. He is a victim here both physically and emotionally as well as psychologically it sounds. Parents aren’t perfect; parenting is done by trial and error a lot. But a little common sense here! Illegal is illegal for a reason. I hope this child doesn’t suffer in the future as a result of the steroids.
gail holladay | 8 months, 2 weeks ago
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