Hi...I have always been an athletic person. I played soccer, swam, and ran track all through middle school and my freshman year in high school. But that same year, I noticed I had raw ability in the pool and that I was posing a threat to the older guys on our team. I was being put in races against seniors...and winning. I dropped soccer my sophomore year to make room for a longer pre-season . Now in my junior year, I have just turned 17 and swim season has ended. I have decided not to run track, but to train year round for next swim season. I lift year round 4x a week, but have seen only definition and not much beefing up. I am 6' 1.5" and 155 lbs.

I recently went to states and was completely blown away by the competition. I ended up in 12th place in my event out of 24 guys in New York state. While in the locker room, I overheard 3 first place finishers and a 4th and 3rd place finisher talking about the steroids that each are taking. I overheard a few names of steroids that I have researched a little bit.

My questions are: What steroid would have the least side effects for me? I am not necessarily worried about my height, but I do kind of enjoy having a nice set of balls, so what would I do while on steroids or in between cycles to keep my cajones in working order and at the right size? How long of a cycle should I do an the steroid that is the best for me, and how much should I take? Is there a way to get steroids from my doctor legally? What do you think about sites that sell steroids on the internet, are they safe? Which is better in your opinion, injecting or oral? Which steroid has the lowest cases of liver damage, because that is important to me too.

If I decide not to take steroids, are creatine, andro, and Met-RX Pro safe? I have heard that some of the preceding can cause heart damage, liver damage and other side effects. In your opinion or based on your experiences, are they safe and are they worth the money spent? However, if you are responding to this and you say that I am too young to be taking steroids, please understand that despite your statement I may take them anyway, so offer any advice on the safest way possible to take them. I'm hell bent on taking first next year at states and swimming D1 in college. But I feel that the winning swimmers had an edge on me and I would like to have that edge and that first place medal. Thank you very much for your time and thoughts, and wish me luck!

Tim