Drugs in sport

What is a drug ? A substance that can be taken in a variety of ways to produce physical and/or psychological effects on the person taking it, but may also cause some effects that are both unpleasant and unwanted . These are known as side effects. There are two main categories of drugs: • performance-enhancing • recreational

Side effects All drugs have side effects. A side effect of some drugs is that they are addictive, this is as true of nicotine and alcohol as it is of heroin and cocaine. If a person becomes addicted to using drugs it is often very difficult to give up. Most drugs have physical side effects, which can range from high blood pressure to insomnia, and even death

What do you think is the most important reason a performer takes drugs What do you think is the most important reason a performer takes drugs. Read through and number the top 3 – be prepared to explain your answer

Performance-enhancing drugs Performance-enhancing drugs can enhance a persons performance in some way, either in physical activity and training, or in daily life. They include some drugs that are socially acceptable and many that are illegal. Performance-enhancing drugs include: • Beta blockers • Anabolic steroids • Diuretics • Stimulants • Narcotic analgesics • Peptide hormones including erythropoietin/EPO

Anabolic Steroids Stimulants Beta Blockers Diuretics Increase muscle mass and develop bone growth, therefore increase strength, while at the same time allow the athlete to train harder and recover quicker Aggression Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes high blood pressure liver disease infertility in women They help people to be more calm, lower heart rate and improve control and concentration. As a result stress levels and anxiety are reduced. nausea and diarrhoea tiredness depression insomnia and nightmares Used to increase the amount of urine produced causing rapid weight loss in sports where performers are required to compete within strict weight boundaries, e.g. boxers or jockeys. Diuretics may also be taken in an attempt to reduce the concentration of any other banned substance that may be present in the urine Dehydration, which can cause dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea Peptide Hormones – EPO (Erythropoietin) Narcotic analgesics Stimulants These help people to be more alert, enabling them to think more quickly. Using these drugs helps to overcome tiredness. They are especially useful to offset the effects of lactic acid on muscles. • loss of balance loss of concentration • loss of coordination • emotional effects, including hallucinations (morphine). The specific performance enhancing quality of these drugs especially erythropoietin (EPO) is that they increase the number of red blood cells, allowing the body to carry extra oxygen, and disperse waste products and lactic acid. This effect increases aerobic capacity, which is useful in, for example longer distance events and cycle events. They can cause strokes and abnormal growth. EPO thickens the blood making it hard for blood to pass through the capillaries. These help people to be more alert, enabling them to think more quickly. They are especially useful to offset the effects of lactic acid on muscles. • insomnia • aggression • irregular heart beat • increased heart rate • high blood pressure • addiction

List of drug, an example of a sport it may be used in and why it would be taken Advantage Anabolic Steroids Boxer Increases strength = more powerful punches Beta Blockers Archery Keep calm = steady aiming Diuretics Boxing Meet the fighting weight Narcotic Analgesics Football Can perform whilst injured Peptide Hormones Long distance cyclist Increases red blood cells = carry more oxygen Stimulants Goal keeper React quickly to the shots = higher rate of success

One health risk is insomnia, which may lead to a lack of mental focus One health risk is insomnia, which may lead to a lack of mental focus. Another risk is aggression, a consequence of this is a damage to social health in how you deal with others.

One activity would be horse racing because the jockey would want to weigh as little as possible, allowing the horse to go faster. Another activity would be boxing because the boxer would want to meet the weigh in before the fight.

EPO is more likely to be taken by the long distance runner because it increases the red blood cell count, which means they can carry more oxygen. With more oxygen they can maintain a higher intensity for longer periods of time. It would have the same effect on sprinters, but as their race doesn’t rely on increased oxygen to complete it well, it doesn’t give them the same advantage.

Taking anabolic steroids increases muscle mass, therefore gives performers an unfair advantage over their competitors. For example, boxers would become more powerful, therefore throw harder punches. It also allows performers to train harder, which means they could be more skilful or have more fitness then a competitor who did not take steroids.