Download DRUGS IN SPORT

 A drug is any chemical introduced to the body which
affects how the body works.
 Doping is the term used in reference to improving
performance by taking drugs.
 Athletes take different drugs for different reasons.e.g.
To improve performance
To alleviate pain so that they can keep going
To build muscle quicker than they would
normally
To calm them down before an important event
 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) who run the
Olympic Games have strict rules on prohibited substances.
They take random tests both in season and out of it.
 They have a list of drugs which are identified as performance
enhancing and therefore banned. These include
Stimulants
Narcotic-analgesics
Anabolic agents
Diuretics
Anxiety reducing drugs
Peptide hormones and analogues
Alcohol, marijuana and beta blockers have certain restrictions
Stimulants
 The second most common drug used by sportspeople
and include amphetamines, ephedrine and cocaine, as
well as nicotine and caffeine.
 These stimulate the circulatory system and the
nervous system. The raise heart rate and speed up your
reaction time.
 The individual will feel awake and confident.
 They can work hard for longer periods of time without
tiring or feeling pain.
Narcotic Analgesics
 These are painkilling drugs and include heroin,
methadone, pethidine and morphine.
 They act on the central nervous system and prevent
the body from feeling pain.
 They make the individual feel good.
 Some sportspeople use them to ease the pain from
injury so they can continue to compete or return to
competition quicker.
Anabolic agents
 Believed to be the most common drug used to enhance
sporting performance.
 They mimic the male hormone testosterone.
 These help build and repair muscles and bones.
 Some use them to increase the strength and size of
muscles or to help them recover after injury.
 The best known are testosterone, stanozol and
nandrolone.
 Side effects can be severe including increased
aggression, risk of heart attacks and strokes and liver
disease
Diuretics.
 These cause more water to be excreted in urine.
 Athletes who need to be a certain weight will misuse
these e.g. boxer, jockey.
 Some use them are used as a masking agent hide the
presence of other drugs in the body e.g. Anabolic
steroids
Anxiety reducing drugs
 E.g Beta-Blockers and tranqulisers.
 These types of drugs help reduce anxiety and calm you
down.
 Beta-blockers reduce the affect of adrenaline which is
produced when you’re anxious e.g. at the start of a race
or before a big event.
Peptide hormones
 These types of drugs often used to produce the same
effects of anabolic steroids.
 The body’s natural hormones are produced
synthetically and taken to increase muscle
development.
 Human growth hormone is used by some athletes and
can only be detected by a blood test.
 Erythropoietin (EPO) is used to treat anaemia as it
increases the amount of haemoglobin available. Again
this is only detected via a blood test.
Alcohol
 Although socially acceptable it is banned in sport as it
has an unfair or detrimental effect on performance.
 It can act as a sedative, slowing reactions and
impairing judgement.
 It is dangerous in sports where judgement at speed is
needed e.g. motor racing
 Excessive use of alcohol can lead to liver disease
Smoking
 Harmful chemicals are taken into the body.
 Nicotine is stimulant. It raises the pulse rate .
 In endurance activities where a good cardio
respiratory system is required smoking can be a major
hindrance.
 In the long term smoking can lead to a wide range of
diseases
Blood Doping
 The more red cells in the blood the more oxygen that
can reach the muscles.
 Blood doping means taking blood from an athlete a
few weeks before competition separating the red cells
and freezing them, before injecting them back into the
body before competition.
 This process is very hard to detect.
 When the rewards for winning are much higher than for
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coming second or third an athlete will do whatever is
possible to ensure success.
The use of drugs is an effective way to beat opponents
which can also be hidden and difficult to detect.
The big change between the status of an amateur and
professional player is big business.
Sponsorship can be worth millions of pounds to some
individuals.
This has put pressure on players to be the best that they
can which has in turn contributed to the numbers that take
drugs to enhance performance.
 The time available for a sportsperson to compete is
relatively short.
 During this time injury can affect performance or the
ability to train.
 Some are tempted to take drugs, which can help in
healing the injury quicker and therefore, the ability to
train more.
 Coaches can also put pressure on a sportsperson. They
also receive endorsements, sponsorship or payment for
their player’s performance. This is their livelihood and
without a sportsperson to train they are out of a job.
 Some athletes turn to drugs because they believe that
their opponents are using drugs and that they are
under an unfair advantage when they compete. They
believe that they cannot win unless they also take
drugs.
 Family, team mates and supporters can also put undue
pressure on an athlete to be successful.
 The attitude of win at all costs puts tremendous
pressure on an individual especially when their
performance is televised around the world.