NEWD drugs in sport

• reasons for elite performers to use drugs.

  • win-at-all-costs
  • success is accompanied with fame and fortune. there are a high level of extrinsic rewards
  • high levels of pressure. e.g coaches, family and media
  • lacked of effective deterrants
  • poor role models make it seem acceptable
• anabolic steroids

  • artificially produced hormones which aid in storage of protein and promote muscle growth
  • increase strength and power whilst also decreasing fatigue
  • can cause liver damage, heart issues and aggression/mood swings
• beta-blockers.

  • decrease anxiety by preventing adrenaline from binding to nerve receptors
  • allow heart rate to stay low, improving accuracy.
  • reduce muscle spasms by widening arteries to increase blood flow
  • cause tiredness due to low blood pressure and slower heart rate
• EPO.

  • artificially manufactured natural hormone that increases red blood cell count
  • increases oxygen carrying capacity therefore increasing endurance and delaying onset of fatigue
  • used my endurance performers
  • can result in blood clotting and strokes
• what are the negative implications of drug taking on the sport?

  • gives the sport a bad reputation
  • provides negative role which can make people believe they need to take drugs to succeed in the sport
  • creates suspicion which can cloud success of 'clean' athletes
• examples of drug taking having negative implications to the sport

  • justin gatlin
  • lance armstrong
  • tour de france - long history with doping offences, in 2007 it was referred to as 'tour de farce'
• what are the positive implications of drug taking on the performer?

  • positively impacts performance
  • can provide fame and fortune
• what are the negative implications of drug taking on the performer?

  • affects performers health
  • can lose reputation when testing positive
  • testing positive can result in legal action, loss of sponsorships and income
• BALCO scandal. (bay area laboratory cooperative)

  • biggest scandals in drug history
  • source of THG
  • several athletes banned from athletics
  • marion jones put in jail
• strategies for elimination of performance enhancing drugs.

  • UK anti doping - protects UK sport from threat of doping, administers testing to over 40 sports. work with athletes to increase knowledge about dangers and moral issues associated. invest in drug detection technology and medicine
  • WADA - created in 1999 to promote and monitor fight against doping. use 'whereabouts system' which allows them to locate and test athletes at any time without advance notice.
  • punish performers as harshly as possible to act as a detterrant
  • promote positive role models
• problems that occur when eradicating drugs in sport.

  • difficult to gain immediate access when athletes training abroad
  • masking agents can manipulate results
  • drugs can be taken accidentally