Drugs Flashcards
What are social reasons for doping
Win at all costs attitude.
Success brings fame and fortune (extrinsic rewards / money for success
through prize money, sponsorship deals etc).
Pressure to win from coaches, family, media and sponsors.
Lack of effective deterrents.
Belief that they will not get caught.
Poor role models.
A desire for a level playing field (e.g. everyone else is taking them).
Poor methods of testing.
Physiological reasons for doping
Steady nerves and decrease anxiety - beta blockers
Increase aggression and arousal - anabolic steroids
Increase confidence/mental alertness/concentration and motivation - stimulants
What are anabolic steroids
Artificially produced hormones e.g. (Tetrahydrogestrinone - THG):
What are the benefits to anabolic steroids
Promote muscle growth & development of muscle tissue in the body - increased strength, power, size and mass.
Less fat in the muscle - lean body weight.
Can train for longer at higher intensity & decrease fatigue caused by training
Faster recovery time / train more frequently / quicker repair of muscle tissues.
Who typically takes anabolic steroids
Power athletes such as sprinters, shot putters
What are the side effects of anabolic steroids
Liver damage, heart and immune system problems. Acne and behaviour changes such as aggression, paranoia and mood swings
What are beta blockers
Calm individual down and decrease anxiety - counteracts adrenaline that interferes with performance by preventing it from binding to nerve receptors
What are the benefits of beta blockers
Improve accuracy in precision sports through steadying the nerves.
They calm performance anxiety and aid performance by keeping the heart rate low decreasing the tremble in the hands. By widening the arteries, allowing increased blood flow and reducing involuntary muscle spasms
Who typically takes beta blockers
High precision sports such as archery, snooker and golf
What are the side effects of beta blockers
Tiredness due to low blood pressure and slower heart rate (affects aerobic capacity).
What is EPO (erythropoietin)
Hormone - increase red blood cells.
(Natural hormone produced by the kidneys, artificially manufactured to increase hemoglobin levels).
What are the benefits to EPO
More red blood cells - increase in oxygen carrying capacity of body.
Resulting in an increase in the amount of work performed, increasing endurance and delays onset of fatigue, an athlete can keep going for longer and recover more quickly from training.
Who typically takes EPO
Endurance performers such as long distance runners and cyclists
What are the side effects of EPO
Blood clotting, strokes and in a few cases death
What is the positive impact of drugs on the sport
Higher performance levels (although through illegal means).
What is the negative impact of drugs on the sport
- Drug taking and doping threatens the integrity of the sport.
- Cheating negatively damages the reputation of a sport & decreases interest in it.
- Certain sports are strongly associated with drug cheats e.g. Ben Johnson & athletics, Lance Armstrong & cycling.
Negative role models to young children (ideal that they cannot compete if they don’t take drugs).
What is the positive impact of drugs on the performer
- It can bring the performer fame and fortune if they manage to evade detection.
- Improved performance (illegally).
- Enhanced confidence / focus / physiology.
- Increased training drive, aggression and confidence.
Rewards for success.
What is the negative impact of drugs on the performer
- Strong association with drugs creates suspicion which clouds the success of clean athletes e.g. Chris Froome (2015 Tour De France and Mo Farah World Athletics Championships in Beijing).
- Damage a performers health - acne, balding, steroid rage, females can acquire masculine traits: deep voice, facial hair, breast reduction. Stunt growth, liver damage, increased risk of blood clots.
- Perception ‘if you don’t take it you won’t make it’/ increase/others are taking them/peer pressure/ or equiv.
- Institutionalised doping/forced to take drugs.
- Social consequences - athletes involved lose their reputation following a positive test.
- Career prospect impacted.
- Loss of income & sponsorship deals - fined, banned, stripped of medals and earning and jail time e.g. Marion Jones & the BALCO scandal.
- Social isolation from peers.
- Impacts on athletes emotional wellbeing.
Impacts on athletes psychological well being.
