drugs in sport

Question 1

sociological reasons for drug taking

Answer 1

win at all costs attitude
fame and fortune
pressure from family, coaches, media, sponsors
lack of deterrents
believe they can get away with it
poor role models
drug taking viewed as acceptable

Question 2

psychological reasons for taking drugs

Answer 2

beta blockers used to steady nerves where fine motor skills are required
anabolic steroids used to increase aggression in high contact sports
stimulants can be used to bolster athletes suffering from a lack of confidence

Question 3

what are anabolic steroids and what are they used for

Answer 3

artificially produced hormones

increase muscle mass, strength, endurance. train and recover faster

Question 4

what are beta blockers and what are they used for

Answer 4

medicine that lowers blood pressure

used to calm nerves in high precision sports by lowering performance anxiety. lower HR by widening arteries therefore increasing blood flow

Question 5

what is EPO and what is it used for

Answer 5

hormone that stimulates red blood cell production

enhances endurance and stamina, helps increase the amount of oxygen the red blood cell can carry

Question 6

side effects of anabolic steroids

Answer 6

liver damage, heart disease, high blood pressure

Question 7

side effects of beta blockers

Answer 7

fatigue, slow HR, breathing issues

Question 8

side effects of EPO

Answer 8

blood clotting,, rarely - death

Question 9

implications to the sport of drug taking

Answer 9

threatans the spirit of the sport

impact on reputation - cheating

association of drug taking with sport

clouds success of athletes

negative role models

Question 10

implications to the performer of drug taking

Answer 10

can bring fame and fortune

negative role models

health damaged

lost reputation

loss of income/sponsorship

fines/bans

effect on wellbeing

Question 11

strategies for eliminating PED’s

Answer 11

UK-anti-doping society is responsible for protecting UK sport from the threat of drug taking and doping

administers testing programmes for over 40 sports

educationalstrategies to educate athletes

promote ethical, clean sport via th ‘100% ME’ programme

Question 12

what is the 100% ME programme

Answer 12

delivered to athletes at all stages of the performance pathway
by positive role models

Question 13

how to prevent PED’s

Answer 13

investment in drug detection technology, science and medicine

work in coordination with the WADA (world anti-doping agency) and NGB’s

random testing

out of season testing

harsh punishments to deter others

Question 14

punishments for taking PED’s

Answer 14

-longer bans
-lifetime bans
-return of lifetime career earnings
-return of money made through sponsorship

Question 15

problems with drug testing

Answer 15

difficult to gain access to athletes training abroad

ongoing development of drugs

drugs can be taken accidentally

different countries have different regulations -hard to unify

Question 16

thing to remember when discussing ‘doping’ acronym

Answer 16

D - drug free culture through education
O - organisations envolved in drug testing/detection
P - punishments
I - investment in research to stay ahead
N - name and shame role models
G - guilty lose funding / sponsorship deals

Question 17

arguments for legalising drug taking

Answer 17

-battle against drugs is expensive and time consuming
-drugs are easy to access and hard to eliminate
-money could be better spent on increasing participation
-detection not always effective
-difficult to distinguish what is a drug / legal supplement
-drugs are sometimes taken accidentally
-its a personal choice
-would level the playing field
-if taken properly, dangered lessened
-athletes do not ask to be role models

Question 18

arguments against legalising drug taking

Answer 18

-health risks and side effects
-creates negative role moldels
-give negative image to sports
-pressure to take drugs increases
-success should be built on hardwork and talent
-drugs give an unfair advantage
-it is cheating
-only richer countries can afford them
-loss of sponsorship
-it is illegal