Performance Enhancing Drugs

Question 1

What is doping?

Answer 1

Administration of a compound by a competing athlete to gain an unfair advantage. Sometimes it may be administered through an abnormal route.

Question 2

What is the World Anti-Doping Agency?

Answer 2

Created after the Tour de France Scandal, they made a prohibited substance list.

Question 3

What does the agency say about doping?

Answer 3

It endangers athletes health and the integrity of the sport.

Question 4

How does a drug get banned from use

Answer 4

It must meet two out of the three following criteria:

• performance enhancing
• potential health risk
• against the spirit of the sport

Question 5

What are the performance enhancing drugs?

Answer 5

stimulants, anabolic steroids, diuretics, hormones (EPO), hGH, Beta Blockers, Alcohol and previously caffeine.

Question 6

What was the earliest known doping agent?

Answer 6

Stimulants

Question 7

What are examples of stimulants?

Answer 7

• Strychnine (low doses stimulant, poison at high doses)
• Cocaine
• Ephedrine
• Amphetamines
• Caffeine

Question 8

What is the MOA for stimulants?

Answer 8

They work on the CNS -> reduce muscle tiredness/overall fatigue, increase cardiovascular activity (heart rate and blood pressure)
- they also enhance stamina and competitiveness

Question 9

What are the side effects of stimulants?

Answer 9

It can overstimulate two systems:
Cardiovascular –> arrhythmias, and hypertension
CNA –> anxiety, psychosis, and tremors

Question 10

What are anabolic steroids?

Answer 10

Testosterone and Analogues

Question 11

How do they catch cheaters?

Answer 11

Through technology and sampling, that is continually updated.

Question 12

What is an example of an anabolic steroid?

Answer 12

Stanozolol

Question 13

What is the MOA for anabolic steroids?

Answer 13

Bind to receptors in cell nuclei to stimulate protein production →In performance it helps enhance growth of muscles, and repair tissues

Question 14

What are the side effects?

Answer 14

There are many:

• Cardiac Hypertrophy: thickening of heart walls. Hence not allowing as much blood to be pumped
• Mood disorders
• Infertility in women
• Sterility in men

Question 15

How do they find those taking anabolic steroids?

Answer 15

In the body, only testosterone has anabolic properties, whereas epitestosterone does not. But the body makes both in equal quantities. If someone is injecting testosterone, the ratio will be off (>4 is suspicious). E can be injected as a masking agent, but regardless, the ratio of both plasma concentrations will be much higher than normal.

Question 16

What do diuretics do as a performance enhancing drug?

Answer 16

They increase urine production. As a result this can be used a potential for rapid weight loss (important for sports with weight categories). Additionally since there is increased excretion, other drugs that may be in the system will be flushed easier (good masking agent).

Question 17

What hormones are used as performance-enhancing drugs?

Answer 17

Eretho Poletin and hGH

Question 18

What is Eretho Poletin?

Answer 18

Endogenous hormone that is stimulated in conditions of low blood volume carried by oxygen. Taking this drug will increase oxygen carrying capacity. This improves power in sport and 50% longer at peak power before exhaustion (works better in the average athlete vs expert).

Question 19

What are the side effects of EPO?

Answer 19

Stroke or blood clotting due to, excess blood cells

Question 20

What is hGH and what does it do?

Answer 20

Endogenous compound, important for growth of bone and muscle. Sometimes it is even used in growth disorders.

Question 21

How does it help in sport?

Answer 21

Increase for 100m sprint (4%).

Question 22

hGH also has a synergistic relationship with which hormone?

Answer 22

Testosterone

Question 23

How do Beta-Blockers help as a performance enhancing drug?

Answer 23

It blocks the effects of adrenaline/sympathetic drive. For example tachycardia, anxiety, nervousness, tremor, and decreased heart rate.

Question 24

What sports are Beta Blockers CONDITIONALLY banned and why?

Answer 24

Advantageous in golf, automobile racing, shooting, archery, and billiards/darts because you want a steady heart beat for precision.

Question 25

What is the therapeutic use exemption?

Answer 25

Athlete and physician can apply for permission to compete while on a specific drug. It is reviewed by a panel of experts on a case by case analysis.
ex: (10%) Some baseball players have have amphetamine exemption due to ADHD

Question 26

Why are cannabinoids included?

Answer 26

PERFORMANCE ENHANCING

• They have analgesic properties (in a sport like judo, better tolerance for pain)
• Reduced anxiety
• Low levels may improve concentration

POTENTIALLY a health risk 
- Decreased cognitive performance 
- Pulmonary toxicity 
SPIRIT OF SPORT
- Illegal substance in some countries 
conflict with perceptions 
- negative reactions from sponsors

Question 27

Why was alcohol previously included?

Answer 27

May be performance enhancing
• Decreases anxiety and fear
• May improve some forms of concentration
• Analgesic properties 
 Potentially a health risk

• Decreased cognitive/motor performance
• Numerous short/long term effects
Against the spirit of sport

• Conflicts with perception of athletes as role models
• Negative reactions from public, sponsors

Question 28

What sports is it banned from?

Answer 28

Banned in sports where coordination is key such as Racing, Power boating, Aeronautic sports, and Archery.

Question 29

WADA and Russia?

Answer 29

Allegations of athletes after Sochi olympics
- Intimidation of doping officers, bribery, samples intentionally and maliciously destroyed, training under fake names
2016
- Non Russian testing agencies have to prove Russian participants clean
- any previous athlete sanctioned for doping deemed ineligible