Drugs in sport

Question 1

What are social reasons for drugs in sport ?

Answer 1

• Win at all costs attitude
• Success = fame and fortune
• Pressure to win from coaches, family and media
• Lack of effective deterrents
• People don’t think that they will get caught
• Poor role models

Question 2

What are the psychological reasons for drugs in sport ?

Answer 2

• Beta blockers are used to steady nerves
• Anabolic steroids are used to increase aggression and training capabilities
• Stimulant to increase confidence

Question 3

What was Marion Jone’s involvement in drugs ?

Answer 3

• US track and field athlete
• Won 3 gold and 2 bronze at the Sydney olympics
• Was stripped of her medals
• Took EPO (makes more red blood cells)
• Increase aerobic capabilities
• Was sentenced to 6 months in jail

Question 4

What are anabolic steroids ?

Answer 4

Artificially produced hormones

Question 5

What are the reasons for using anabolic steroids ?

Answer 5

• help with storage of protein
• promote growth of tissues in muscles
• increases strength and power
• decreases fatigue

Question 6

Which athletes use anabolic steroids ?

Answer 6

• power athletes
• e.g sprinters

Question 7

What are the side effects of anabolic steroids ?

Answer 7

• liver damage
• heart and immune issues
• behaviour change (e.g aggression, paranoia)

Question 8

What are Beta blockers ?

Answer 8

• decrease anxiety
• counteraction adrenaline (they prevent adrenaline binding to nerve receptors)

Question 9

What are reasons why people use beta blockers ?

Answer 9

• improves accuracy by steadying nerves
• helps keep heart rate low
• widen arteries which increases blood flow so less muscle spasms happen

Question 10

Which athletes use beta blockers ?

Answer 10

• High precision sports
• e.g archery and golf

Question 11

What are the side effects of beta blockers ?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What are EPO’s ?

Answer 12

• natural hormone
• produces by kidneys
• increase red blood cells
• artificially manufactured
• increase haemoglobin levels

Question 13

What are the reasons EPO’s are used ?

Answer 13

• stimulates production of red blood c3ells
• increase in oxygen carrying capacity
• increase work performed
• increases endurance
• delays fatigue
• recover quicker

Question 14

Which athletes use EPO’s ?

Answer 14

• endurance performers
• long distance runners

Question 15

What are the side effects of EPO’s ?

Answer 15

• blood clotting
• stroke
• death

Question 16

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

Answer 16

• Threatens spirit and integrity
• Damages a sports reputation
• Clouds real success of athletes

Question 17

What are the positive and negative implications of drug use to the performer ?

Answer 17

• positively impacts a performer if not caught as it brining fame and money
• negative role models
• poor health
• social consequences
• loss of income
• legal actions

Question 18

What is UKAD’s role in eliminating performance enhancing drugs ?

Answer 18

• UK anti-doping
• protects the UK from the threat of drug taking
• works with 40 sports
• Works mainly with coaches to increase knowledge about the dangers in drugs within sports
• Promotes the 100% me programme
• Works alongside WADA (world anti-doping agency)

Question 19

What problems still exist with drugs in modern day sport ?

Answer 19

• Athletes training abroad (difficult to access)
• Development of new drugs/ masking agents
• Drugs can be ‘accidentally’ taken
• different countries have different regulations