Soc11 PEDs

Question 1

Why do people take performance enhancing drugs? (4)

Answer 1

Pressure, the reward of winning, some people are encouraged to do so by their coaches or fellow athletes and to improve their performance.

Question 2

Anabolic steroids

Answer 2

Anabolic steroids: drugs that mimic the male sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscles growth. Anabolic steroids are used to enhance performance. Taken to increase muscles mass and develop bone growth, therefore increasing strength while at the same time allowing the athlete to train harder and recover quicker. Side effects: increased risk of muscle injury, increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, high blood pressure and even death

Question 3

Beta Blockers

Answer 3

Beta blockers: drugs that are used to control the heart rate and have a calming and relaxing effect. Benefits: beta blockers can help targets sports where steadiness and precision are required, because they reduce heart rate. Side effects: nausea, diarrhoea, tiredness, depression, insomnia and nightmares.

Question 4

Narcotics and analgesics

Answer 4

Narcotics : Drugs that effect the mood or behaviour including drownsiness and relieving pain
Analglesics : drugs that elevate the rate of urine production. Pain relief allowing an injured player to play. But they will have a loss of co-ordination and loss of concentration.

Question 5

Diuretics

Answer 5

Diuretics: drugs that elevate the rate of urine production. Benefits: this can help performers who need to lose weight. Diuretics may also be used to reduce the concentration of any other banned substance that may be present in the urine. Side effects: dehydration, which can cause dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea.

Question 6

Peptide hormones

Answer 6

Peptide hormones. Increases the rate of production of red blood cells. Benefits: Increase muscles growth, assist in recovery from injury and heavy training sessions. Allows the body to carry extra oxygen, and disperse waste products and lactic acid. Side effects: Blood becomes thicker, which makes it more difficult to pass through the small capillaries and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Question 7

Growth hormones

Answer 7

Growth hormones (GH): is used to increase their muscles development (very similar to steroids). Benefits: Increase muscles growth (strength and size). Not as many side effects as steroids.
Side effects: Minimal side effects, can be detected by a blood test and not in your urine.

Question 8

Stimulants

Answer 8

Stimulants: drugs that have an effect on the central nervous system,such as/ or physical alertness. E.g. amphetamines, ephedrine and cocaine, as well as nicotine and caffeine. Benefits: Increase alertness, enabling people to think more by stimulating the central nervous system. Overcome tiredness. Reduce the effects of lactic acid on muscles. Side effects: insomnia, irregular/ increased heart beat, high blood pressure and addiction.

Question 9

Blood doping

Answer 9

Blood doping is a banned process - not a banned drug. Blooding doping involves boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to improve performance. As red blood cells carry 02 to the muscles, having more of these cells in your blood can improve your aerobic capacity and in turn your endurance. It is well known that if an athlete trains at high altitude the oxygen carrying capacity of their blood increases. For this reason, athletes born at high altitude have a distinct advantage in endurance events.