Drugs in Sport :) Flashcards
doping
in competitive sport, the use of banned performance enhancing drugs by athletic competitors
social reasons
- win at all costs attitude
- fame and fortune attached to success at elite level
- high levels of pressure to win from coaches, family, media
- the other athletes are taking them - ‘even playing field’
- lack of effective deterrents
- poor testing systems
- poor role models setting bad examples
psychological reasons
beta blockers: steady nerves for fine motor control
anabolic steroids: increase aggression for rugby
stimulants: increase confidence levels
stimulants
drugs that induce a temporary improvement in mental and physical function
- increased alertness and awerness
anabolic steroids
artificially produced hormones, tweaked by chemists to make it undetectable
used by power athletes such as sprinters
anabolic steroids - benefits
+aid storage of protein which promote muscle growth and muscle tissue development - increased strength and power
+less body fat in muscles so lean body weight
+improve body’s capacity to train for longer at higher intensity - decrease fatigue
anabolic steroids - side effects
- liver damage
- heart problems
- immune system problems
- acne
- behavioural changes - aggression, paranoia, mood swings`
beta blockers
medication used for heart conditions that widens arteries which allows increased blood flow and reduces involuntary muscle spasms
used by high precision sports such as archery, snooker and golf
beta blockers - benefits
+ improved accuracy in precision by steadying nerves
+ calms performance anxiety
+ aids performance by keeping heart rate low and decreasing trembling
+ counteracts adrenaline that interferes with performance by stopping it binding with nerve receptors
beta blockers - side effects
- tiredness
- low blood pressure
- slower heart rate
- decreased aerobic capacity
erythropoietin (epo)
natural hormone produced by kidneys to increase red blood cells - artificially produced to increase haemoglobin levels
used by endurance athletes such as long distance runners/cyclists who need effective blood transport
epo - benefits
+ stimulates red blood cell production
+ increase in oxygen carrying capacity of the body
+ increase amount of work that can be done
+ increased endurance
+ delay onset of fatigue
epo - side effects
- blood clotting
- stroke
- death
positive implications - performer
+ athletes can push themselves to break records
+ get fame and fortune
+ leave a legacy of success
+ reach previously unattainable levels of success
negative implications - performer
- sponsorship will be stopped if found guilty
- financially damage the athlete
- banned from competition
- loss of role model status
- psychological damage - cant compete at same high level sober
- physiological damage - bad side effects
- social isolation from peers
positive implications - sport
+ sport becomes a spectacle and more popular due to impressive records
+ if everyone dopes it creates an even playing field
negative implications - sport
- reputation of sport can be tarnished - like cycling and athletics
- clean + honest athletes find it harder to compete
- sponsors wont want to be associated with sport
- clean athletes will be accused if they are successful
- younger people put off joining that sport
- negative role models emerge
world anti doping agency - wada
created in 1999 led by ioc to promote, co-ordinate and monitor fight against drugs in sport
wherabouts system
system developed to support out of competition testing, requiring athletes to supply details of their whereabouts so they can be located at any time and anywhere for testing without advanced notice
strategies to eliminate p-e drugs
Drug free culture created via education programmes (100% me)
Organisations involved in drug detection/enforcement should cooperate
Punishments being made harder
Investment required into new testing technology
Name and shame negative role models
Guilty loose funding/sponsorship deals
arguments for legalisation
+ battle against drugs is expensive and time consuming
+ drugs are v easy to access so elimination is very hard
+ money could be better spent elsewhere
+ detection isn’t always effective; testers are one step behind takers
+ hard to define a drug compared to a legal substance
+ sometimes drugs are taken accidentally
+ sacrifices are personal choice of performer
+ if everyone takes drugs it levels playing field
+ if properly monitored - health risks could be reduced
+ drugs can be used to aid in recovery after difficult training
+ athletes have free will and didn’t ask to become role models
arguments against legalisation
- health risks and dangerous side effects
- creates negative role models who may encourage kids to copy them
- gives negative image to certain sports
- pressure to take drugs increases from coach and peers
- success in sport should be due to hard work and natural talent
- gives unfair advantage
- drugs are immoral, unethical and against fair play ethic
- only richer countries can afford it
- drug taking is illegal and cheating
- negative effects such as loss of sponsorship, medals and funding
