Drugs in Sport :)

Question 1

doping

Answer 1

in competitive sport, the use of banned performance enhancing drugs by athletic competitors

Question 2

social reasons

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

psychological reasons

Answer 3

beta blockers: steady nerves for fine motor control

anabolic steroids: increase aggression for rugby

stimulants: increase confidence levels

Question 4

stimulants

Answer 4

drugs that induce a temporary improvement in mental and physical function
- increased alertness and awerness

Question 5

anabolic steroids

Answer 5

artificially produced hormones, tweaked by chemists to make it undetectable

used by power athletes such as sprinters

Question 6

anabolic steroids - benefits

Answer 6

+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

Question 7

anabolic steroids - side effects

Answer 7

• liver damage
• heart problems
• immune system problems
• acne
• behavioural changes - aggression, paranoia, mood swings`

Question 8

beta blockers

Answer 8

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

Question 9

beta blockers - benefits

Answer 9

+ 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

Question 10

beta blockers - side effects

Answer 10

• tiredness
• low blood pressure
• slower heart rate
• decreased aerobic capacity

Question 11

erythropoietin (epo)

Answer 11

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

Question 12

epo - benefits

Answer 12

+ 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

Question 13

epo - side effects

Answer 13

• blood clotting
• stroke
• death

Question 14

positive implications - performer

Answer 14

+ athletes can push themselves to break records
+ get fame and fortune
+ leave a legacy of success
+ reach previously unattainable levels of success

Question 15

negative implications - performer

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

positive implications - sport

Answer 16

+ sport becomes a spectacle and more popular due to impressive records
+ if everyone dopes it creates an even playing field

Question 17

negative implications - sport

Answer 17

• 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

Question 18

world anti doping agency - wada

Answer 18

created in 1999 led by ioc to promote, co-ordinate and monitor fight against drugs in sport

Question 19

wherabouts system

Answer 19

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

Question 20

strategies to eliminate p-e drugs

Answer 20

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

Question 21

arguments for legalisation

Answer 21

+ 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

Question 22

arguments against legalisation

Answer 22

• 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