Download Ergogenic Aids

Ergogenic Aids
All athletes want to improve their performance and there are both legal and illegal methods (in addition to
training) of achieving this. Substances that improve performance are referred to as ergogenic aids.
Method of
enhancement
Description of method
High
carbohydrate
diet (legal)
A diet high in
carbohydrates such as
pasta, rice, and bread
will increase glycogen
levels
Glycogen
loading
(legal)
Creatine
monohydrate
(legal)
Blood doping
(illegal)
This takes places 6 days
before an important
competition.
For the first 3 days,
training on a high fat
and protein diet occurs;
on the last 3 days, there
is light training on a
high carbohydrate diet.
A supplement used to
increase the amount of
phospocreatine stored
in the muscles
Blood is removed and
stored; the body then
compensates for this
loss and makes more
red blood cells.
The stored blood is then
injected back into the
performer, giving them
a higher red blood
count
Ergogenic Aids dSpeirs adapted from dStevenson
Reasons why this
method is used
Side effects
Compensates for lower
levels of glycogen during
exercise
None
Can increase glycogen
levels and therefore
increase performance.
More water can be
stored in the muscle
but such an extreme
can cause
physiological
problems.
Allows the ATP-PC system
to last longer and can
help improve recovery
time
To improve aerobic
capacity through
increasing the oxygen
carrying capacity of the
body, allowing the
performer to work for
longer and therefore
considerably enhance
aerobic performance due
to:
- Increase Red Blood Cells
- Increase in Haemoglobin
- increase the VO2 max
- increase oxygen uptake
and carrying capacity –
therefore increases
energy delivery to
enhance aerobic
performance
No harmful side
effects known
The viscosity of the
blood could increase,
leading to clotting
and a risk of death
Method of
enhancement
Anabolic
steroids (illegal)
Stimulants ….
Is a name given
to several
groups of drugs
that tend to
increase
alertness and
physical
processes in the
body.
Beta-blockers
(illegal)
Description of method
Artificially produced
hormones
Legal stimulants include:


caffeine*
nicotine
Side effects
Promote muscle growth
and lean body weight
Liver damage, acne,
excessive aggression
Caffeine thought to
improve the
mobilisation of fatty
acids in the body.
Caffeine increases
the danger of
dehydration
Illegal stimulants include:


Amphetamines
cocaine and crack
Help to calm an individual
down
Masking Agents
Diuretics (legal)
Reasons why this
method is used
Decreases tiredness,
increases metabolism;
individual is more alert
Insomnia, weight
loss, cardiovascular
problems that can
lead to death
Can improve accuracy in
precision sports through
steadying the nerves
Tiredness due to
low blood pressure
and slower heart
rate
Side Effects
Products that can
potentially conceal the
presence of a prohibited
substance in urine or other
samples.
Ergogenic Aids dSpeirs adapted from dStevenson
Water loss causing dehydration.
Upset stomach, feeling faint, dizziness and low
blood pressure.
Affects thermoregulation.
Can cause increased loss of electrolytes/mineral
salts, leading to fatigue, muscle cramping,
exhaustion and cardiac arrest.
Associated with kidney failure/disease.
Method of
enhancement
Description of method
A natural hormone
produced by the kidney
that promotes the
formation of red blood
cells in the bone
marrow – increase
haemoglobin levels.
Erythropoietin
EPO (illegal)
EPO then stimulates the
bone marrow to
produce more red cells
and thereby increase
the oxygen-carrying
capacity of the body
(blood) and can lead to
an increase in the
amount of work
performed.
It can now be artificially
manufactured to cause
an increase in
haemoglobin levels
Ergogenic Aids dSpeirs adapted from dStevenson
Reasons why this
method is used
An increase in the
oxygen-carrying capacity
of the body can lead to
an increase in the
amount of work done
EPO has been much misused as a performanceenhancing drug in
endurance athletes
including some cyclists (in
the Tour de France),
long-distance runners,
speed skaters, and Nordic
(cross-country) skiers.
Side effects
Dehydration can
further increase the
viscosity of the
blood, blood
clotting, increasing
the risk for heart
attacks, strokes and
in a few cases death