Soc11: PEDs

Question 1

Why do people 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 (Gold medal in some sports is said to be
worth a million dollars in endorsements).
Pressure.

Question 2

Anabolic steroids

Answer 2

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

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, diarrhea, tiredness, depression, insomnia and nightmares.

Question 4

Narcotics and analgesics

Answer 4

Narcotics: drugs that affect mood or behaviour, including drowsiness and relieving pain.
Analgesics: drugs that elevate the rate of urine production.
Benefits: these drugs 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.
Side effects: Loss of coordination, loss of balance, loss of concentration and emotional effects

Question 5

Diuretics

Answer 5

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

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

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

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.
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.