Drugs in Sport

Question 1

What are the social reasons for using illegal drugs?

Answer 1

• Win at all cost attitude
• Fame and fortune - high levels of rewards to be receieved
• High levels of pressure to win
• Poor role models
• Lack of effective deterrents

Question 2

What are the physiological reasons for using illegal drugs

Answer 2

ANABOLIC STEROIDS - synthetic hormones that help with the growth and repair of muscle tissue
- Aid in storage of protein, promotes muscle growth + development of muscle tissues = increased strength and power
- Less fat in muscle, lean body weight
- Improve body capacity to train for longer + higher intensity + decrease fatigue
BETA BLOCKERS - helps calm the individual down and decreases anxiety by counteracting the adrenaline that interferes with performance by preventing it from binding it to nerve recpetors
- improve accuracy + precision through steadying nerves
- Calm axniety
- Keeps HR low
- Widens arteries = increased bloodflow
- Reduces muscle spasms
EPO - natural hormone produced by the kidneys to increase red blood cells; can be atrifically manufactured to cause an increase in haemaglobin levels
- Stimulates red blood cell production = increase oxygen capacity
- Increases endurance, delays onset fatigue

Question 3

What are the side effects of anabolic steroids?

Answer 3

• liver damage
• heart and immune system problems
• acne and behaviour changes such as aggression/paranoia and mood swings

Question 4

What are the side effects of beta blockers?

Answer 4

• Tiredness due to low BP
• Slower HR - affects aerobic capacity

Question 5

What are the side effects of EPO?

Answer 5

• blood clotting
• stroke
• sometimes death

Question 6

What are the positive implications for the performer of drug taking?

Answer 6

• Brings fame and fortune

Question 7

What are the negative implications of drug taking for the performer?

Answer 7

• damages performers health: high BP, heart disease, stroke
• future career prospects may be negatively impacted - loss of income and sponsorship deals
• those involved in doping may lose good reputation
• fines, banned from competing, stripped off medals and earnings, end up in jail
• doping = isolation from peers

Question 8

What are the positive implications of drug taking on the sport?

Answer 8

• Raises performance level of athletes = better entertainment = more spectators = more commercialisation deals

Question 9

What are the negative implications of drug taking on the sport?

Answer 9

• thretens spirit and integrity of sport
• provides negative role models to young children who go on to think you cant compete without drugs

Question 10

What strategies can be used to eliminate the use of PEDs?

Answer 10

• Drug free culture created via education programmes
• Organisations incvolved in drug detection/enforcement need to work together
• Punishments need to be harsher
• Investment is required into new testing programmes/technology
• Name and shame negative role models
• Guilty los funding/sponsorship deals

Question 11

What are the challenges of trying to eliminate PEDs from sport?

Answer 11

• Access to athletes who are participating or training abroad - testing and tracking is difficult
• Accurate testing - new drugs are being developed which are hard to detect - masking agents are also used to hide the substance taken
• Taking of banned substances contained in prescribed or over the counter drugs and abused by athletes
• UK are a leading country in the fight against abusers, however, not all countries have the same approach