Drugs In Sport

Question 1

What is meant by the term doping?

Answer 1

In competitive sports, the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs by athletic competitors.

Question 2

What Is meant by Stimulants?

Answer 2

Drugs that induce a temporary improvement in mental and physical function (e.g. increase alertness and awareness).

Question 3

What are some of the social reasons for using illegal drugs and doping methods?

Answer 3

1 - A ‘win at all costs’ attitude, which dominates modern-day elite sport.
2 - The fame and fortune attached to success at elite level (i.e. the very high level of extrinsic rewards/money received for sporting success via prize money, sponsorship deals and son on)
3 - The high levels of pressure to win from a variety of different sources such as coaches, family and the media (coaches might persuade athletes to take drugs illegally because their main competitors do so and they will not be able to compete with them on a level playing field if they do not)
4 - The lack of effective deterrents and firm belief that a performer will get away with it and not get caught.
5 - Poor role models setting bad example that drug taking in certain sports is viewed in some way as being acceptable (e.g. athletics/cycling)

Question 4

What are the psychological reasons why people take performance enhancing drugs?

Answer 4

1 - Aid their psychological performance in a variety of different ways.
2 - When suffering from a lack of confidence, stimulants can be used to raise performers belief that they can achieve, even when the competitors is of the highest standard like at the Olympic Games.

Question 5

What are anabolic steroids?

Answer 5

Artificially produced hormones, e.g. tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) which was tweaked by chemists to make it undetectable by ‘normal’ tests.

Question 6

Physiological benefits of Anabolic steroids

Answer 6

Aid storage of protein and promote muscle growth and development of muscle tissue in the body, leading to increased strength and power.

Lead to less fat in the muscle and a lean body weight.

Improve the body’s capacity to train for longer at a higher intensity and decreases fatigue associated with training.

Question 7

Who is it used by?

Answer 7

Power athletes, such as sprinters.

Question 8

Side effects of anabolic steroids?

Answer 8

Liver damage
Heart problems
Immune system problems
Acne
Behavioural changes, such as aggression, paranoia and mood swings.

Question 9

What are Beta blockers?

Answer 9

Medication used for heart conditions that works by widening the arteries, allowing increased blood flow and reducing involuntary muscle spasms.

Question 10

Physiological benefits of Beta blockers?

Answer 10

Improve accuracy in precision sports by steadying the nerves.

Calm performance anxiety and aid performance by keeping heart rate low and decreasing tremble in the hands.

Calm performance anxiety by counteracting the adrenaline that interferes with performance by preventing it from binding to nerve receptors.

Question 11

Who may use Beta blockers?

Answer 11

High-precision sports, such as archery, snooker and golf.

Question 12

What are the side effects of Beta blockers?

Answer 12

Tiredness due to low blood pressure.

Slower heart rate, which will affect aerobic capacity.

Question 13

What is Erythropoietin (EPO)?

Answer 13

A natural hormone produced by the kidneys to increase red blood cells; It can now be artificially manufactured to cause an increase in haemoglobin levels.

Question 14

Physiological methods of Erythropoietin?

Answer 14

Stimulates red blood cell production leading to an increase in oxygen-carrying capacity of the body, which can
. increase the amount of work performed
. Increase endurance
. Delay the onset of fatigue.

Question 15

Who may use Erythropoietin?

Answer 15

Endurance performers (e.g. long-distance runners and cyclists) who need effective oxygen transport to succeed in their sport.

Question 16

What are the side effects of Erythropoietin?

Answer 16

1 - Blood clotting
2 - Stroke
3 - Death (in rare cases)

Question 17

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

Answer 17

It can bring fame and fortune for those who manage to evade detection.
More sponsorships and opportunities as they are performing better.
More chance of winning.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

1 - Raises and performance level so performers are stronger and faster.
2 - Can lead to more fans and supporters because the sport is being played to a higher standard.
3 - Drugs remove the effects of genetic inequality and level the playing field.
4 - More successful athletes can bring more sponsors and media coverage for the sport which brings more income and boosts the sport.

Question 19

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

Answer 19

1 - Negative role models for young people
2 - Damaging to the performers health e.g- EPO increases the risk of heart disease.
3 - Athlete could lose good reputation.
4 - Future career prospects may be negatively impacted.
5 - Loss of income and sponsorships.
6 - Legal action which can result in fines, bans, stripped of medals and titles and even jail time.
7 - Isolation from peers.

Question 20

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

Answer 20

1 - Threatens the spirit and integrity of the sport. Ie tainted.
2 - Negatively damages the sports reputation and decreases interest in it. Less people support the sport so less participation, less spectators, less sponsors.
3 - Strong association with a sport and drugs creates suspicion which cloud the success of athletes.
4 - Negative roles models.

Question 21

What are the strategies for the elimination of performance enhancing drugs. (PED’s) in sport?

Answer 21

D - Drug-free culture via education programmes e.g - 100% me
O - Organisations involved in drug detection/ enforcement need to work together
P - Punishments need to be harder.
I - Investment is required into new testing programmes/technology.
N - Name and shaming negative role models.
G - Guilty lose funding/sponsorships deals.

Question 22

What does UKAD stand for?

Answer 22

UK Anti Doping agency

Question 23

What does WADA stand for?

Answer 23

World Anti-Doping Agency

Question 24

Who are UKAD and what do they do?

Answer 24

1 - UK Anti-Doping is the organisation responsible for protecting UK sport from the threat of drug taking and doping. It administers the testing programmes for over 40 sports and has a number of anti-doping strategies designed to try and eliminate the use of illegal PEDs.
2 - UKAD works with athletes and their support staff to increase knowledge and understanding of the dangers of drugs and the moral issues associated with doping. They promote ethically fair, drug-free sport via their 100% Me programme.
3 - Investment In drug detection technology, science and medicine is also used by UKAD to try and ensure they can prevent and detect doping. They work in a coordinated manner with other organisations involved in drug detection such as World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
4 - They work with NGB’s, clubs, coaches and athletes to ensure they comply with WADA.
5 - Lead on doping control including education, prevention and awareness programmes, result management and testing and analysis.
6 - Consequences for cheating include: return of earnings from competition s, legal action, stripper of records, lifetime bans.

Question 25

WADA - Who are they and what do they do?

Answer 25

1 - WADA - a foundation created in 1999 through a collective initiative led by the IOC to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against drugs in sport.
2 - The World Anti-Doping Agency was founded with the aim of brining consistency to anti-doping policies and regulations within sport organisations and governments right across the world.
3 - Preventative methods such as values-based education programme targeted at young athletes, coaches, doctors, training and parents on the dangers and consequences of doping as well as the legal and social ramifications, are increasingly prevalent in anti-doping programs.
4 - Engaging with athletes, their entourage and all those involved in sport on the world stage, WADA’s athlete outreach programme aims to raise awareness while ensuring athletes are involved and part of the solution.

Question 26

What else can be done to combat PED’s?

Answer 26

1 - Promotion of ‘clean’ athletes for positive role models.
2 - Naming and shaming of drugs cheat - negative role models.
3 - More severe bans - lifetime.
4 - Prison sentence.
5 - Better education.

Question 27

What are the challenges of trying to eliminate PED’s from sport?

Answer 27

1 - Access to athletes who are participating or training abroad - testing and tracking is difficult.
2 - Accurate testing - new drugs are being developed which are hard to detect - masking agents are also used to ‘hide’ the substance taken.
3 - The taking of banned substance contained in prescribed or over the counter drugs and abused by athletes.
4 - UK, through UKAD, are a leading country In the fight against abusers, however, not all countries have the same approach due to a number of factors including financial support from the governments.
5 - Variation and lack of standardisation of sanctions globally.