Is this really a shock? They play a rough contact sport and players are perfectly fine when they're being paid millions to ask the doctor for drugs to play through the pain or deal with injuries instead of just quitting or retiring. No shit that stuff is harmful, DUH!
Lot of these guys are HUGE too.... I can't imagine a 6'2" 300 lb guy at age 18 is going have zero body issues by the time he's 40, whether taking drugs or not.