1. Ergogenic Aids in Sport
Chapter 16
Ergogenic Aids in Sport

2. Chapter 16 Overview Researching ergogenic aids
Nutritional ergogenic aids
Anti-doping codes and drug testing
Prohibited substances and techniques

3. Ergogenic Aids Introduction
Ergogenic (work-producing) versus ergolytic (work-decreasing) substances
Athletes experiment, hoping for even slight improvement in performance

4. Researching Ergogenic Aids
To classify as “performance enhancing” must be proven by research
Placebo effect
Placebo: inactive substance that looks like the real thing
Expectations affect physiological response
Double-blind experimental design
(continued)

5. Figure 16.1

6. Researching Ergogenic Aids (continued)
Factors that can limit research
Studies can miss small effects
Equipment inaccuracy
Research variability
Testing situations (lab vs. field)
Reliance on supplement label that is inaccurate

7. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Bicarbonate
Proposed benefits
Increased blood pH and buffering capacity
Delayed onset of anaerobic fatigue
Demonstrated effects
300 mg / kg   all-out performance for 1 to 7 min
Enhanced H+ removal from muscle fibers
Risks
GI discomfort (bloating, cramping)
Sodium citrate  similar results without risks

8. Figure 16.2

9. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: b-Alanine
Proposed benefits
Increased intracellular buffering
Demonstrated effects
– Increased muscle cell carnosine levels
Risks
Paresthesia (tingling of the skin)

10. Video 16.1
When you are in the normal view of the PowerPoint slides, you should right-click on the image and then choose “Open hyperlink” to play the video. In the slide show view, you will simply click on the image to play the video. You must have an Internet connection in order to link to the streaming video.
In this video, Nicholas Burd explains the role of leucine in muscle repair and growth.

11. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Caffeine
Central nervous system stimulant
Sympathomimetic effects similar to amphetamines (but weaker)
Proposed benefits
– Increased alertness and concentration
Improved energy level
Faster response
(continued)

12. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Caffeine (continued)
Demonstrated effects
– Elevated mood
– Decreased fatigue
Lowered perception of effort
– Increased fat metabolism
Risks
Nervousness, tremors
Insomnia, disruption of normal sleep patterns
Addictive

13. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Cherry Juice Polyphenols
Proposed benefits
Pain reduction from anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
Demonstrated effects
– Perceived reduction of muscle pain in research subjects

14. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Creatine
Proposed benefits
Enhanced peak power production during intense exercise
Improved recovery from high-intensity exercise
Demonstrated effects
Increased muscle PCr content
Enhanced performance in high-power exercise
Strength gains when combined with resistance training
(continued)

15. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Creatine (continued)
Risks
Kidney damage in athletes who used massive doses
May not improve performance
Expectations exceed true benefits
Performance enhancement more likely in sports involving brief, high-intensity exercise
Individual variability in response

16. Nutritional Ergogenic Aids: Nitrate
Proposed benefits
Increased delivery of O2 and nutrients to active skeletal muscle
Demonstrated effects
– Improved time to exhaustion
Reduced O2 consumption
Reduced systolic blood pressure
Risks
Adverse effects in people taking medications that affect NO metabolism

17. Anti-Doping Codes and Drug Testing: The World Anti-Doping Code
Substance or practice considered if it meets two of three:
Has the potential to enhance sport performance
Has the potential to harm the athlete
Violates the spirit of sport
Therapeutic use exemption
Check prescribed drugs against banned substances list

18. Anti-Doping Codes and Drug Testing: Contamination of Supplements
Purity
Supplement labels may be inaccurate
Accidental or purposeful contamination
Athletes using supplements risking penalties for banned substances
Potency
May contain negligible values of the desired substance
Some products contain  ‏≤ 150% of dose listed on label

19. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Stimulants
Include amphetamines and related compounds
Also known as sympathomimetic amines
Proposed benefits
Suppress appetite, boost metabolism
Combat fatigue
Heighten concentration and alertness
Induce sense of indestructibility
Improve performance
(continued)

20. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Stimulants (continued)
Demonstrated effects
– Higher state of arousal  increased energy, self-confidence, faster decision making
– Decreased fatigue
– Increased HR, blood pressure, blood flow, blood glucose, and FFAs
(continued)

21. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Stimulants (continued)
Risks
Death
Cardiac arrhythmia
Addiction (psychological, physiological)
Side effects: nervousness, anxiety, aggression, insomnia

22. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroid use
Banned in all sports
Anabolic-androgenic: male sex hormones
Proposed benefits
Increased muscle mass and strength
Reduced fat mass
Facilitate recovery after exhaustive exercise
(continued)

23. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Anabolic Steroids (continued)
Demonstrated effects
– Increased body mass and fat-free mass (FFM)
– Increased total body potassium and nitrogen (FFM markers)
– Increased muscle size and strength
Decreased muscle fiber damage after exhaustive lifting
Dose threshold for anabolic effects
Small doses ineffective
Large, chronic doses very effective
(continued)

24. Figure 16.3

25. Figure 16.4

26. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Anabolic Steroids (continued)
Risks
Children: smaller adult stature
Men: excess estrogen (breast enlargement), testicular atrophy, reduced sperm count, impotence
Women: disrupted menstruation/ovulation, development of masculine sex characteristics
Cancer (prostrate, liver)
Cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, heart attack
Thrombosis, arrhythmia, hypertension
Decreased HDL, increased LDL
Personality changes: aggression, violence

27. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Human Growth Hormone
Proposed benefits
Stimulation of protein, nucleic acid synthesis
Stimulation of bone growth (young athletes)
Stimulation of IGF-1 synthesis
– Increase in FFA mobilization, decreased fat mass
– Increase in blood glucose levels
Enhanced healing after injury
(continued)

28. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Human Growth Hormone (continued)
Demonstrated effects
– Older men: increased FFM and bone density, decreased fat mass
Risks
Acromegaly  skin thickening; soft tissue growth; broadening of face, hands, feet
Enlargement of internal organs
Cardiomyopathy
Hypertension
Glucose intolerance/diabetes

29. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Diuretics
Proposed benefits
Temporary weight reduction
Dilution of banned substances in urine samples
Demonstrated effects
Significant temporary weight loss
Dehydration
Risks
Impaired thermoregulation
Electrolyte imbalance  fatigue, muscle cramping, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest

30. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: b-blockers
Proposed benefits
Enhanced physical steadiness
For shooters, more time to aim between heartbeats
Demonstrated effects
– Decreased resting, submaximal, and maximal HR
Risks
Light-headedness from low blood pressure
Fatigue, impaired performance
Bronchospasm in asthmatics
Hypoglycemia in type II diabetics

31. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Blood Doping
Blood doping is any means by which red blood cell count increases
Transfusion of red blood cells
Infusions of artificial hemoglobin
Use of erythropoietin (EPO) or EPO-stimulating substances
Proposed benefits
Enhanced oxygen-carrying capacity
Improved endurance performance
(continued)

32. Prohibited Substances and Techniques: Blood Doping (continued)
Demonstrated effects
– Increased V•O2max (long term)
– Enhanced endurance performance (short term)
Benefit more evident in second half of race
Risks
Blood becomes too viscous  excessive clotting, heart failure
Blood matching complications
Exposure to bloodborne diseases

33. Figure 16.5

34. Figure 16.6