PERFORMANCEENHANCING DRUGS IN SPORT

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PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS IN SPORT
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• The widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs
  in sport is indicative of an over-emphasis on
  winning.
• Performance-enhancing drugs are used by athletes
• To gain a competitive advantage
• For injury recovery
• For enhanced appearance

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Stimulants

• Delay fatigue and increase the body's endurance
  capacity
• Amphetamines
• Caffeine

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Steroids

• Increase growth of muscles and enhance strength
• Anabolic refers to building of muscles
• Androgenic refers to the increase in masculine
  characteristics
• Human growth hormone (HGH)
• Is produced by the pituitary gland to promote
  growth during childhood and adolescence

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Steroids

• Androstenedione (Andro)
• Is a natural hormone produced by the body that
  increases testosterone levels
• Too much impairs or shuts off the body's
  production of testosterone
• Stunts growth in adolescents
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

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Steroids

• Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG)
• A purely synthetic designer steroid derived from
  another banned steroid (gestrinone) that escapes
  detection in normal drug tests
• Classified as a controlled substance, like
  morphine and amphetamines, and is banned by the
  Food and Drug Administration

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Health Hazards from Use of Steroids

• Mood swings elevation in cholesterol severe
  acne rapid fluid retention and weight gain
  depression roid rage liver tumors and cancer
  high blood pressure heart attacks and strokes
• Specific to males impotence development of
  breasts reduced sperm count shrinkage of
  testicles difficulty/pain in urination baldness
• Specific to females growth of facial hair
  reduction in breasts, changes in menstrual
  cycle deepened voice
• Specific to adolescents premature halting of
  skeletal maturation and growth accelerated
  puberty changes

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Taking Steroids

• Cycling involves taking multiple doses of
  steroids over cycles of weeks or months, stopping
  for a period of time, and starting again
• Stacking combining several different types of
  steroids to maximize their effectiveness

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• Erythropoetin (EPO) increases endurance
• Ephedra delays fatigue
• On April 12, 2004, the Food and Drug
  Administration prohibited the sale of dietary
  supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids
  (ephedra).
• Ephedra, also called Ma huang, is a naturally
  occurring substance derived from plants. Its
  principal active ingredient is ephedrine, which
  when chemically synthesized is regulated as a
  drug.

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Ephedra

• Ephedra products have been extensively promoted
  to aid weight loss, enhance sports performance,
  and increase energy.
• Linked to significant adverse health effects,
  including heart attacks and strokes
• Increased risk of side effects, possibly may be
  fatal
• No evidence that ephedra products enhance
  athletic performance
• Short-term weight loss may be the only benefit

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Creatine

• Improves energy and performance in brief,
  high-intensity activities
• Short-term advantages increased energy in short
  bursts can aid in improving athletic anaerobic
  performance (weight lifting sprinting rowing)
  delays muscle fatigue
• Known disadvantages requires serious strength
  training program dehydrates blood stream, so
  requires excessive consumption of water with the
  consumption of excessive amounts it has the
  potential to cause renal disease
• Long-term side-effects and dangers are unknown

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• Therapeutic or restorative drugs, such as
  anti-inflammatory drugs, are used for specific
  medical purposes
• Street, entertainment, or pleasure drugs, such as
  alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine, and ecstasy
  are used to alter moods or perceptions

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Sources

• Manufacturers the sale of performance-enhancing
  drugs is a huge market, so the incentives are
  high to promote them as safe (natural does not
  mean safe) and effective
• Distributors dietary substances are not
  regulated like drugs by the Food and Drug
  Administration, so anyone is free to market
  supplements without proof of safety or efficacy
  (do they do what is claimed)
• Some drugs, such as steroids, require a
  prescription, but they can easily be obtained via
  the Internet
• Often are obtained from parents, trainers,
  physicians, coaches, teammates, and peers

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Professional Athletes

• Many professional athletes made it to the pros
  with the help of performance-enhancing drugs
• Presumed benefits increased strength and power,
  endurance, aggressiveness, speed, and
  acceleration enhanced competitive attitude,
  concentration, fine motor coordination, and
  eye/hand coordination delay in onset of fatigue
  weight control
• Real costs impaired judgment, reaction time,
  muscular coordination, balance, and eye/hand
  coordination decreased performance of complex
  motor tasks, strength, flexibility, accuracy,
  speed, and acceleration
• The media publicizes those who win
  and achieve at high levels.

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Drug Testing

• NCAA institutions http//www.ncaa.org/library/spor
  ts_sciences/drug_testing_program/2003-04/2003-04_d
  rug_testing_program.pdf

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Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sport

• Even though each NCAA athlete must sign a
  statement that she or he will not use banned
  drugs and will submit to random drug testing (at
  least if involved in NCAA championship
  competitions), seldom are they provided
  information about the risks associated with the
  use of performance-enhancing drugs. Develop the
  outline of the presentation that you would
  present to educate student-athletes about the use
  of performance-enhancing drugs with special
  emphasis on the associated health risks and
  ethical issues.