Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sport

Drugs in Sport

'Doping' is the word used in sport when athletes use prohibited substances or methods to unfairly improve their sporting performance. 'Anti-doping' is the bid to eliminate doping from sport. 

Drugs and Sport A drug is any chemical substance you take that effects the way that your body works. Doping means taking drugs to improve sporting performance. Performers take drugs for different reasons; To improve performance To stop pain so that they can keep training and performing. To build muscles quicker than merely training To decrease anxiety prior to sporting events.

Win at all costs: Gains are even greater today Endorsements Sponsorship Appearance fees Win Bonuses World Record Bonuses Glory and adulation

Banned Substances There are now over 150 banned substances on the IOC’s list. Anabolic steroids help athletes build muscle and to recover faster from training.  Improve body’s capacity to train and compete at the highest levels Peptide hormones are substances that occur naturally in the body, but which produce similar effects to anabolic steroids. Strong analgesic painkillers enable athletes to train whilst injured Stimulants amphetamines and cocaine can raise the heart rate and may improve performance Diuretics help body lose fluids – boxer/jockey losing weight to reach fight weight.  Masking agent for other substances.

Nandrolone Steroid used in the treatment of major burns, malnutrition and osteoporosis. Taken by athletes to boost muscle growth and increase strength. Beta-blockers These slow down the rate of breathing and heart rate. These are tested for only in certain sports (like archery, diving, shooting) because they would severely impair performance in endurance sports. Human Growth Hormone  Hormone produced in the pituitary gland Promotes the growth of bones, muscles and tissues. Drug in vogue at the moment for which there is no test.

EPO - Erythropoietin stimulates the body to produce red blood cells. Used in the treatment of anaemia. Sportsmen realised it could boast red blood cells in healthy human. Blood can carry more oxygen, therefore bodies can work harder for longer. Used by endurance athletes.

Complications in testing The strict enforcement of the rules can also throw up problems. Some athletes who have tested positive for drugs and have been banned from competing go to court to prove their innocence. They sometimes claim that some of the urine samples could have been contaminated before testing. Andrea Raducan's gold medal for gymnastics at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 was revoked because she had taken two painkillers for a cold. Her low body weight meant that these drugs had a stronger effect and showed up in a testing as being over the legal limit for analgesics.  

Doping This is not a banned drug, but a banned practice. Blood doping is the removal of red blood then replaced weeks later to increase the number of cells in the bloodstream and therefore increase the amount of oxygen the body can carry. It is of benefit in long distance races. Doping practices are prohibited in sport because they: endanger the health of athletes can artificially enhance sports performance ‘violate the spirit of sport’

The impact on sport of modern technology Performance Enhancing Products The impact on sport of modern technology Modern technology has made an impact on sport: Playing/track surfaces. Clothing/footwear. Swimwear. Timing/photo-timing. GPS/player monitoring. Bicycle frames/helmets. Sport vehicle design. Computerisation of results/match stats. Personal safety gear. Stadium construction. Biomechanical analysis. Gym equipment.