6.5 - Drugs in Sport Flashcards
Define doping?
In competitive sport, dipping refers to the use of banned performance enhancing drugs by athletic competitors.
What are the social reasons for doping?
- A win at all costs attitude which dominates modern day elite sport
- The fame and fortune attached to success at elite levels (ie high level of extrinsic rewards/money received for sporting success via prize money, sponsorship deals etc)
- The high pressure to win from a variety of different sources such as coaches,family and media expectations (coaches might persuade athletes to take drugs illegally)
- The lack of effective deterrents and firm belief that they will get away with it and not get caught
- Poor role models set a bad example that drug taking in certain sports is viewed in some way as being acceptable
Define and explain the PED; Anabolic Steroids?
It is a artificially produced hormone (e.g THG; Tetrahydrogestrinone)
- They aid in the storage of protein and promote muscle growth and development of muscle tissue in the body, leading to increased strength and power. They also lead to less fat in the muscle, a lean body weight. They can improve the bodies capacity to train for longer at higher intensity and decrease fatigue associated with training.
- They are particularly beneficial to power athletes such as sprinters
- The side effects include; liver damage, heart and immune system problems, acne and behaviour changes such as aggression, paranoia and mood swings.
Define and explain the PED; Beta-blockers?
They help to calm an individual down and decrease anxiety by counteracting the adrenaline that interferes with performance by preventing it from binding to nerve receptors.
- The can be used to improve accuracy in precision sports through steadying the nerves. They calm performance anxiety and aid performance by keeping the heart rate low and decreasing the tremble in the hands. They work by widening the arteries, allowing increased blood flow and reducing involuntary muscle spasms.
- Particularly relevant in high precision sports such as archery, snooker and golf.
- Side effects include; tiredness due to low blood pressure and slower heart rate which will affect aerobic capacity.
Define and explain the PED; EPO (Erythropoietin)?
A natural hormone produced by the kidneys to increase red blood cells. Now it can be artificially manufactured to cause an increase in haemoglobin levels.
- It stimulates red blood cell production which leads to an increase in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the body. This can result in the increase in the amount of work performed. It therefore increases endurance and delays the onset of fatigue. An athlete can keep going for longer and recover more quickly from training.
- Tends to be used by endurance performers (e.g long-distance runners and cyclists) who need effective oxygen transport in order to succeed in their sport).
- Side effects include; can result in blood clotting, stroke and in rare causes death.
Define a stimulant?
Drugs that induce a temporary improvement in mental and physical function (e.g increased alertness and awareness)
Give examples of athletes who took Performance enhancing drugs?
Ben Johnson (Athletics - 100m) Lance Armstrong (Cycling) Mo Farah (Athletics - 10,000m)
What is the memory tool for the strategies used to decrease drug usage and define it?
DOPING
D - Drug free culture created via education programmes (e.g 100% me)
O - Organisations involved in drug detection/enforcement need to work together
P - Punishments need to be harsher
I - Investment is required into new testing programmes/technology
N - Name and shame negative role models
G - Guilty lose funding/sponsorship deals
What are the problems that still exist with doping?
- Sometimes it is difficult to gain immediate access to athletes who may be training abroad.
- There is ongoing development of new drugs/masking agents which keep the performers who take drugs one step ahead of testers.
- The fact that sometimes drugs can be taken accidentally means some individuals claim their ‘innocence’ despite the fact they are ultimately responsible for what they put into their body.
- Different countries and sports have different regulations and testing procedures so it’s very difficult to get a unified approach to eliminating drug usage in sport.
What are the arguments for the legislation of drugs in sport?
- The battle against drugs is expensive and time consuming
- Drugs are quite easy to access and some would argue that they are very difficult to eliminate and the money spent on testing could be better spent on things like participation initiatives and/or investment in elite sport
- Detection is not always effective; drug testers are always one step behind as new drugs become available and masking agents are developed
- Sometimes it is difficult to define what a ‘drug’, compared to a legal supplement; other technological aids are not regulated such as oxygen tents and nutritional supplements
- Drugs are sometimes taken accidentally (ie stimulants in cold cures)
- Sacrifices made by the performer are a personal choice
- If everyone takes drugs it levels the playing field and increase performance standards
- Is drug taking is properly monitored, health risks may be lessened
Name the major arguments against drugs in sport?
- There can be health risks and dangerous side effects (addiction/heart disorders)
- Drug taking creates negative role models who set poor examples for the young
- Drug use gives negative image in certain sports
- Pressure to take drugs increases from coaches and peers who take drugs
- Success in sport should be about hard work and natural talent
- Drugs give an unfair advantage and are immortal, unethical and against the fair play ethic
- Taking drugs is cheating!
- Only richer countries can afford them
- Can lead to loss of sponsorship, medals, lottery funding etc
- It’s illegal
