1. Doping in sport : an evil to be defeated

2. What is doping? Why is it banned? The use of performance-enhancing drugs in human sport is commonly referred to by the term doping, particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance enhancing drugs. Another similar use of medical technology is called blood doping, either by blood transfusion or use of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). The use of drugs to enhance performance is considered unethical by most international sports organizations and especially the International Olympic Committee, although ethicists have argued that it is little different from the use of new materials in the construction of suits and sporting equipment, which similarly aid performance and can give competitors an unfair advantage over others. The reasons for the ban are mainly the alleged health risks of performance-enhancing drugs, the equality of opportunity for athletes, and the exemplary effect of "clean" ("doping- free") sports for the public. sport blood dopingblood transfusionerythropoietin International Olympic Committee

3. What kinds of drugs exist? What is Benzedrine? Benzedrine is a trade name for amphetamine. The Council of Europe says it first appeared in sport at the Berlin Olympics in 1936.It was produced in 1887 and the derivative, Benzedrine, was isolated in the U.S. in 1934. Its perceived effects gave it the street name "speed". British troops used 72 million amphetamine tablets in the Second World War4 and the RAF got through so many that "Methedrine won the Battle of Britain" according to one report.The problem was that amphetamine leads to a lack of judgement and a willingness to take risks, which in sport could lead to better performances but in fighters and bombers led to more crash landings than the RAF could tolerate. The drug was withdrawn but large stocks remained on the black market. Amphetamine was also used legally as an aid to slimming. Benzedrine

4. What Are Anabolic Steroids? Anabolic steroids are a class of steroid hormones based on the androgen testosterone. Anabolic steroids are also known as anabolic- androgenic steroids or AAS or performance enhancing drugs.testosterone

5. What Are the Risks of Using Anabolic Steroids? In addition to increasing muscle strength and mass, the effects of taking anabolic steroids include harmful changes in cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, acne, liver damage, and changes to the structure of the left ventricle of the heart. Anabolic steroids have an androgenic or virilizing effect, meaning they affect male characteristics. Anabolic steroids affect the onset of puberty, growth of the clitoris in females and the penis in male children (does not affect the size of the penis in adults), increased size of the vocal chords and deepening of the voice, increased body hair, and premature baldness in people predisposed to it. Another side effect is decreased fertility and testicular atrophy.

6. How performance enhancing drugs work to boost athlete performance? Athletes may have two reasons for using performance- enhancing drugs. An athlete may want to: Build mass and strength of muscles and/or bones Increase delivery of oxygen to exercising tissues Build Mass and Strength of muscles and/or bones The drug that is commonly used to build muscle mass and strength is Anabolic Steroid. This is the drug that Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was caught using. Athletes use anabolic steroids because they increase muscle strength by encouraging new muscle growth. They allow the athlete to train harder and longer at any given period. Increase delivery of Oxygen to exercising tissue EPO (Erythropoietin) is the drug choice here. Erythropoietin is a naturally occurring protein hormone that is secreted by the kidneys during low- oxygen conditions. When EPO is injected in the body it stimulates the bone marrow stem cells to make red blood cells, which increase the delivery of oxygen around the body. It is the drug of choice in endurace athletes in Marathons and cycling.

7. ..to be continued.. Bomba Serena Ahroud Madiha De Filippi Eleonora