Performance Enhancing Drugs Flashcards
What are anabolic steroids
Drugs that increase strength, speed and stamina by increasing muscle size and allowing athletes to train harder, also increase aggression, same structure as testosterone which increases anabolic reactions eg protein synthesis in muscle cells so increases size and strength of muscles
What are stimulants
Drugs that speed up reactions, reduce fatigue and increase aggression
What are narcotic analgesics
Drugs that reduce pain so injuries don’t affect performance
Arguments against using performance enhancing drugs
-some are illegal
-competitions become unfair if some people take drugs, gain advantage by taking drugs not through training
-serious health risks associated with the drugs eg high bp and heart problems
-athletes may not be fully informed of health risks of drugs
Arguments for using performance enhancing drugs
-it’s up to each individual, athletes have the right to make their own decision about taking drugs and whether they’re worth the risk
-drug free sport isn’t completely fair anyway as dif athletes have access to dif training facilities and equipment, use of drugs may overcome these inequalities
-athletes that want to compete at a higher level may only be able to by using performance enhancing drugs
What do absolutists think
Performance enhancing drugs should be banned from all sports- think use of drugs is morally wrong and they should never be used
What do rationalists think
The use of drugs can be justified in certain circumstances
What is EPO
Peptide hormone produced by kidneys that increases exercise performance by increasing oxygen blood transport meaning higher maximum oxygen uptake but can increase risk of thrombosis, heart attack and stroke
How does creatine work
Increases the amount of phosphocreatine in muscles which provides an instant release of energy by combining with ADP to produce ATP but has side effects of high bp, nausea and kidney damage
