Option A.3 Flashcards
Define the term ergogenic aid.
An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that improves an athlete’s performance
Describe the placebo effect
The placebo effect is a phenomenon whereby a fake treatment (a placebo), a substance composed of sugar and/or water, improves athlete’s performance for no reason other than the athlete expects it to help. Placebos are often used by coaches in pre-performance and recovery situations to improve performance. E.g., a sugar pill which is said to ‘reduce muscle soreness and swelling’ could reduce perceived soreness for an athlete.
List five classes of non-nutritional ergogenic aids that are currently banned by the IOC and WADA.
- Anabolic steroids.
- Hormones and related substances.
- Diuretics and masking agents.
- Beta Blockers.
- Stimulants.
Discuss why pharmacological substances appear on the list of banned substances.
Athletes at the Olympic Games take an oath to compete fairly, which includes avoiding doping or drug-enhanced performance.
The use of banned non-nutritional ergogenic aids like anabolic steroids and EPO violates this fair competition oath.
These substances pose legitimate health risks to the athletes who use them.
Utilizing banned substances compromises the competitive integrity of the sport and the legitimacy of the competitions.
Discuss the proposed and actual benefits that some athletes would hope to gain by using anabolic
steroids
Athletes use anabolic steroids aiming for weight gain, faster recovery, more intense and frequent training, increased muscle mass, decreased body fat, and improved endurance.
Weight gain from steroids may sometimes be in fat, not muscle, challenging the expected muscle mass increase and body fat decrease.
The benefits of increased muscle mass and decreased body fat are not consistently supported by scientific evidence.
The advantage of faster recovery, allowing for greater training frequency and intensity, is scientifically proven.
Discuss the proposed and actual benefits that some athletes would hope to gain by using erythropoietin
Athletes use Erythropoietin (EPO) aiming to increase oxygen carrying capacity and exercise capacity.
EPO usage effectively increases haemoglobin levels in the blood, improving exercise and oxygen carrying capacities.
Recent studies indicate that EPO use may also affect cognitive function.
Discuss the proposed and actual benefits that some athletes would hope to gain by using beta blockers
By using beta blockers, an athlete generally hopes to increase their precision and accuracy. By decreasing a candidate’s heart rate, this is well proven and agreed upon scientifically.
Discuss the proposed and actual benefits that some athletes would hope to gain by using caffeine
Strengths:
improved alertness ✔
improved concentration ✔
improved reaction time ✔
improved oxidization of fats ✔
low cost/easily accessibility ✔
legal ✔
reduced fatigue ✔
increased endurance and strength ✔
increased energy levels ✔
Discuss the proposed and actual benefits that some athletes would hope to gain by using diuretics.
Athletes use diuretics to enhance physical appearance, control weight, and potentially conceal the use of illegal substances.
Diuretics increase urination and excretion, leading to lower body weight and a subjective improvement in physical appearance.
The increased volume of urine from diuretic use can dilute illicit substances, lowering their concentration and making detection harder.
Outline the possible harmful effects of long-term use of anabolic steroids
Heart issues: cardiomyopathy, increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Liver conditions: hepatitis, liver tumors.
Hormonal imbalances: testicular atrophy, reduced sperm count and testosterone in men; disturbed menstrual cycle and reduced estrogen in women.
Skin problems: due to increased cholesterol in the skin.
Mental health issues: aggression, violence, depression.
Outline the possible harmful effects of long-term use of EPO
The use of EPO can cause an increase in blood viscosity, causing a risk of blood clots, as well as an increase in
blood pressure.
Outline the possible harmful effects of long-term use of caffeine
Limitations:
induce nervousness ✔
restlessness ✔
insomnia ✔
dehydration ✔
increased blood pressure ✔
overstimulation (restlessness/arousal) ✔
can cause gastrointestinal issues ✔
Outline the possible harmful effects of long-term use of beta blcokers
The use of beta blockers leads to a risk of cardiac failure, due to decreases in heart rate and blood pressure.
Outline the possible harmful effects of long-term use of diuretics
The use of diuretics leads to worsened thermoregulation due to a decrease in blood plasma, as well as fatigue and increased sensitivity.
