Drugs in Sport

Question 1

What is meant by doping?

Answer 1

In competitive sport, doping refers to the use of banned performance enhancing drugs by athletics performers

Question 2

What are some social reasons for drug taking in sport?

Answer 2

• Win at all costs attitude
• High pressure to win from coaches, media and family
• Lack of effective deterrents and firm belief they’ll get away with it
• Poor role models

Question 3

Explain erythropoietin and the side effects

Answer 3

• Naturally occuring hormone that regulates red blood production
• Studies suggest that it’s effective in raising the red blood cell count
• Adverse side effects include blood becoming more viscous which places greater strain on the heart - potential stroke and blood clotting

Question 4

Explain anabolic steroids and who it would be useful for and the side effects

Answer 4

• Increases the synthesis of protein within muscle cells which results in a build up of muscle tissue
• Decreases fat in the muscles
• Artificially produced hormone
• Beneficial for power athletes such as sprinters
• Dangerous side effects include liver and kidney tumours, high blood pressure, increase in cholesterol

Question 5

Explain beta blockers, who would use and the side effects

Answer 5

• Causes a calming effect and reduced tension
• Blocks the action of adrenaline, which affects the CNS
• Causes arteries to widen and slows the action of the heart, which in turn lowers blood pressure
• Particularly relevant in high precision sports like snooker
• Side effects tiredness and sleep problems

Question 6

How does performers taking drugs have negative implications to a sport?

Answer 6

• Threatens integrity and spirit of sport
• It is cheating
• Certain sports can become associated with drug taking
• Strong association with drugs can cloud the successes of clean athletes within a sport
• Provides negative role models

Question 7

How does performers taking drugs have negative implications to a performer?

Answer 7

• Negative role models
• Damaging to a performers health
• Lose their good reputation
• Career prospects impacted with a lack of income and sponsorship deals
• Can result in legal action
• Can be banned, fined and stripped of medals

Question 8

What are some strategies for eliminating PEDs in sport?

Answer 8

UKAD responsible for
- administering testing programmes
- works with athletes and their support staff to increase knowledge and understanding of taking drugs
- Promote drug free, ethically fair sport via their ‘100%’ me programme

Question 9

What is the world anti doping agency responsible for?

Answer 9

• Testing the use of drugs on the banned list
• Promote, co ordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sport

Question 10

What are some problems with eliminating drugs in sport?

Answer 10

• Difficult to gain access to athletes who train abroad
• Ongoing development of new drugs
• Drugs can be taken accidentally eg when ill
• Different countries and sports have different regulations and testing procedures

Question 11

What are some arguments for the legalisation of drugs?

Answer 11

• Battle against drugs is expensive and time consuming
• Drugs are easy to access so difficult to eliminate
• Detection is not always effective
• Difficult to define a drug
• Sometimes taken by accident
• Everyone taking drugs gives a level playing field

Question 12

What are arguments against the legalisation of drugs?

Answer 12

• Health risks and dangerous side effects
• Creates negative role models
• Would give negative image to sport
• More pressure to take drugs
• Success in sport should be down to natural talent and hard work
• Drugs are illegal in everyday life, immoral and unethical
• Less affluent countries and performers can’t afford them