Performance Enhancing Drugs

Question 1

Why would an athlete take performance enhancing drugs?

Answer 1

Improve their performance
Some people are encouraged to do so by their coaches or fellow athletes
The reward of winning and endorsements
Pressure

Question 2

What are anabolic steroids?

Answer 2

Anabolic steroids are drugs that mimic the male sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscle growth

Question 3

Benefits and side effects of anabolic steroids

Answer 3

Benefits:
Used to enhance performance
Increases muscle mass and develops bone growth
Increases strength and allows quicker recovery
Side effects:
Increased risk of muscle injury
Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, high blood pressure etc

Question 4

What are beta blockers?

Answer 4

Beta blockers are drugs that are used to control the heart rate and have a calming or relaxing effect

Question 5

What are the benefits of beta blockers?

Answer 5

Beta blockers can help target sports where steadiness and precision are required, because they reduce the heart rate.

Question 6

What are the side effects of beta blockers?

Answer 6

Nausea, diarrhoea, tiredness, depression, insomnia and nightmares

Question 7

What are narcotics?

Answer 7

Drugs that affect mood or behaviour, inducing drowsiness and relieving pain.

Question 8

What are analgesics?

Answer 8

A painkilling or pain relieving drug.

Question 9

What are the benefits of narcotics and analgesics?

Answer 9

They act by depressing the central nervous system and give relief from painful injuries, but allowing the injured player to take part, they can increase the risk of severe or long lasting injury

Question 10

What are the side effects of narcotics and analgesics?

Answer 10

Loss of coordination, loss of balance

Question 11

What are diuretics?

Answer 11

Diuretics are drugs that elevate the rate of urine production

Question 12

What are the benefits of diuretics?

Answer 12

Helps performers who need to lose weight. Diuretics may also be used to reduce the concentration of any other band substances in the urine

Question 13

What are the side effects of diuretics?

Answer 13

Dehydration, dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea

Question 14

What are peptide hormones?

Answer 14

Drugs that increase the rate of maturity in your red blood cells

Question 15

What are the benefits of peptide hormones?

Answer 15

Increased muscle growth
Assists recovery of injury and training sessions
Gets rid of lactic acid efficiently

Question 16

What are the side effects of peptide hormones?

Answer 16

Blood becomes thicker, increasing risk of heart attack

Question 17

What are growth hormones?

Answer 17

Used to increase muscle growth and similar to steroids

Question 18

What are the benefits of growth hormones?

Answer 18

Increases muscle growth in strength and size. Not as many side effects as steroids.

Question 19

What are the side effects of growth hormones?

Answer 19

Can be detected by a blood test but not by urine. Minimal side effects

Question 20

What are stimulants?

Answer 20

Drugs that have an effect on the central nervous system such as physical alertness. E.g. amphetamines, ephedrine and cocaine as well as nicotine and caffeine

Question 21

What are the benefits of stimulants?

Answer 21

Increases alertness, enabling people to think more by stimulating the central nervous system. Overcome tiredness. Reduce the effect of lactic acid on the muscles

Question 22

What are the side effects of stimulants?

Answer 22

Insomnia
Increased or irregular heart beat
High blood pressure
Addiction

Question 23

What is blood doping?

Answer 23

Blood doping is when an athlete takes blood out of their body and freezing it. Before an event, this blood is then put back inside the athlete in order to give them a huge boost of oxygen in their body.