Performance-Enhancing Substances and Techniques. Why Cheat? Victory Economic rewards (prize money,...

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Performance-Enhancing Substances and Techniques

Transcript of Performance-Enhancing Substances and Techniques. Why Cheat? Victory Economic rewards (prize money,...

Performance-Enhancing Substances and Techniques

Why Cheat? Victory Economic rewards (prize money,

endorsements) Social rewards (fame) 3 types of performance-enhancing substances

and techniques: Nutritional aids Pharmacological aids Physiological aids

Nutritional Aids Examples: vitamins, minerals, protein and

amino-acid supplements, carnitine, creatine, caffeine, and various extracts from plant sources

Readily available Natural Positive effects are unproven Some may contain hidden amounts of steroids

– athlete needs to use caution

Pharmacological Aids

Can be used to: Mask pain Increase muscle mass --> increase speed and

strength Help the recovery process Increase oxygen-processing capacity Maintain weight (boxing, wrestling)

Doping The World Anti-Doping Agency defines doping

as: “the use of an artifice, whether substance or method, potentially dangerous to athletes' health and/or capable of enhancing their performances”.

Most popular pharmacological aids include: Pain-masking drugs Anabolic steroids Prohormones Human growth hormone Erythropoietin

Physiological Aids Includes blood doping and drug masking Banned by the IOC (International Olympic

Committee) and other sport-governing bodies

Blood Doping Intravenous administration of blood, red blood

cells, and related blood products to raise the blood's oxygen carrying-capacity Thus enhancing aerobic athletic performance Can use your own blood or someone else's

Drug Testing Used to ensure an even playing field for all

athletes A drug testing program involves random, year-

round and unannounced testing Use urine to detect the presence of any banned

substances Each sport-governing body has pre-set limits for

each substance i.e. NHL, Triathlon Canada, PGA, etc.

Ethical Issues

If some athletes are using performance enhancing substances and not getting caught, 'clean' athletes may feel that they need to use banned substances as well in order to keep up

Using illegal substances can distract an athlete from proper and proven training techniques

A large part of this ethical decision is knowing the consequences Health risks: heart attack, stroke, death

The World Anti-Doping Agency

Based in Montreal Promotes and coordinates the fight against

doping internationally Responsible for drug testing at the Olympics Read page 166 to get a better understanding of

the drug testing process

Drug Policies in Pro Sports

NHL Has banned the use of all illegal substances

(including steroids) Based on an agreement with the Player's

Association does not drug test The possession of steroids and other performance-

enhancing drugs, as well as “recreational” substances can be grounds for league-enforced suspension and fines, the league cannot actually test any of the players to prove that the substance is in their system

NFL “The National Football League prohibits the use

by NFL players of anabolic/androgenic steroids (including exogenous testosterone), human or animal growth hormones...as well as masking agents or diuretics used to hide their presence”

NFL players can potentially be tested anytime during the year

Can be tested if there is “reasonable cause” to suspect they are using banned substances

CFL CFL does not test its players for drug use due

to financial reasons The cost of a single test is $2,500

News that a CFL player had been charged for a steroid-production lab in Milton forced officials to reconsider their drug policy

League cannot implement any testing without consent from the Players Association

NBA These players have received the most publicity for drug

infractions – usually testing positive for recreational drugs

However, based on the negotiations with the NBA Players Association, the league cannot test for the presence of marijuana but can suspend a player for being found in possession of it

ALL NBA players are tested at least once during the 4 week pre-season

Rookies are tested without prior knowledge 3 more times If a veteran tests positive during the pre-season he is tested

again during the season BUT ONLY IF OFFICIALS HAVE “REASONABLE CAUSE” TO SUSPECT HE IS USING.....Suspensions occur if a players tests positive

MLB September 2002 – players would be tested on

the basis of “just cause” until 5% of all the MLB players who are tested have recorded postive tests

2006 – mandatory testing of all players