Soc11- Performance Enhancing Drugs

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

What are Anabolic Steriods?

Answer 2

Drugs that mimic the sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscle growth

Question 3

What are the benefits of Anabolic Steriods?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of Anabolic Steroids?

Answer 4

Side effects: increased risk of muscle injury, increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, high blood pressure and even death!

Question 5

What are Beta Blockers?

Answer 5

Drugs that are used to control the heart rate and have a calming and relaxing effect.

Question 6

What are the benefits of Beta Blockers?

Answer 6

Benefits: beta blockers can help targets sports where steadiness and precision are required, because they reduce heart rate.

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of Beta Blockers?

Answer 7

Side effects: nausea, diarrhoea, tiredness, depression, insomnia and nightmares.

Question 8

What are Narcotics Analgesics?

Answer 8

Narcotic analgesics - these are painkillers that are used to help an injured athlete continue to train and perform in big competitions despite their injury or allow an endurance athlete to tolerate a greater level of pain. This can be dangerous for an athlete as their injury may worsen by continuing to perform.

Question 9

What are the benefits of narcotic analgesics?

Answer 9

These drugs can 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 narcotic analgesics?

Answer 10

Loss of coordination, loss of balance, loss of concentration and emotional effects.

Question 11

What are duretics?

Answer 11

Drugs that elevate the rate of urine production.

Question 12

What are the benefits of diuretics?

Answer 12

This can help performers who need to loose weight. Diuretics may also be used to refuce the concentration of other banned substance that may be present in the urine.

Question 13

What are the side effects of diurietics?

Answer 13

Dehydration, which can cause dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea.

Question 14

What are peptide hormones?

Answer 14

Increase the rate of production of red blood cells.

Question 15

What are the benefits of peptide hormones?

Answer 15

Increase muscle growth, assist in recovery from injury and heavy training sessions. Allows the body to carry extra oxygen, and disperse waste products and lactic acid.

Question 16

What are the side effects of Peptide Hormones?

Answer 16

Blood becomes thicker, which makes it more difficult to pass through the small capillaries and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Question 17

What are Growth Hormones?

Answer 17

Is used to increase their muscles development (very similar to steroids).

Question 18

What are the benefits of Growth Hormones?

Answer 18

Increase muscle growth (strength and size). Not as many side effects as steroids meaning less aggressive.

Question 19

What are the side effects of Growth Hormones?

Answer 19

Minimal side effects, can be detected by a blood test and not in your urine.

Question 20

What are Stimulants?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

What are the benefits of Stimulants?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What are the side effects of Stimulants?

Answer 22

Insomnia, irregular/increased heart beat, high blood pressure and addiction.

Question 23

What is Blood Doping?

Answer 23

• blood doping is a baned process - not a banned drug
• Blooding doping involves boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to improve performance
• As res 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 thatvif 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 afvantage in endurnace events