2. Performance enhancing
substances
 Ergogenic aids are
practices or substances –
legal or illegal – that
improve performance
 Because of the huge
desire (both intrinsic and
extrinsic) to win, there is a
huge amount of research
into improving
performance and recovery

3. Performance enhancing
substances
 Pre -1960’s, it was
common for athletes to
use illegal performanceenhancing drugs (because
there was no drug testing)
 Coaches, athletes and
administrators ignored the
potential side effects and
ethical considerations.

4. Performance enhancing
substances
 The IOC became actively
involved in anti-doping
initiatives when Tommy
Simpson died during the
1967 Tour De France
 The medical Commission
of the IOC was
established in 1967
 A list of banned
substances was
developed
 This list includes -

5. Illegal substances list
 beta-blockers, stimulants, narcotics (pain
blockers), diuretics, anabolic agents (protein
(muscle) building substances), peptide
hormones, blood doping,

6. Anabolic agents
 Also known as Anabolic
androgenic steroids
 Such as: Testosterone
 Performance benefits:
 Increased lean muscle
mass and strength
 Reduced fatigue
 Increased rate of
recovery
 Increased aggression

7. Anabolic agents – Side
effects
Male

Possible infertility

Increased libido

Female
Testicular atrophy

Baldness

Development of breast tissue
 Menstrual problems
 Body/facial hair
 Enlarged clitoris
 Deeper voice
Both:
- Liver damage, diabetes, heart problems, mood swings, acne and
more

8. Anti-oestrogenic agents
 Usually used
legitimately for
hormone replacement
therapy (treatment for
breast cancers)
 Illegally used to
counteract undesireable
side-effects associated
with anabolic steroid
use – such as the
development of breast
tissue.
Side effects:
- Hot flushes
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Fluid retention
- Venous thrombosis

9. Hormones and related
substances
 EPO (Erythopoietin)
 Benefits
 Increases RBC
production, thus
increasing O2 carrying
capacity
 Side effects
 Blood thickening
 Blood clots
 Increased risk of heart
attack/stroke
 Dehydration
EPO is a naturally
occurring hormone
produced by the
body, therefore when
someone is injecting, its
use can be difficult to
detect.

10. Hormones and related
substances
 hGH (human growth
hormone)
 Benefits
 Increases muscle size
and strength
 Side-effects
 Acromegaly (disease of
the pituitary gland)
 Thickened skin
 Increased BP
 Hairiness
 Cardiac disease
Like EPO, hGH is produced
naturally via the pituitary gland –
and like EPO, it can be difficult to
detect synthetic use

11. Diuretics and masking
agents
 Medication to treat liver
and kidney diseases
 Benefits
 Increased production
of urine to assist in
making weight
restrictions
 Presence of other
drugs masked by
diluting their urine
samples
Side effects:
- Dehydration
- Kidney and heart failure
- Headaches
- Light-headedness

12. Stimulants
 Types:
Amphetamines, cocaine, e
phidrine
 Benefits
 CNS directly effected
(speeds up
movements/reactions)
 Increased
alertness, reduced
tiredness and
increased
competitiveness and
agression
 Prohibited in competition
Side effects:
- Heat regulation problems, increased
breathing rate, aggressive
behaviour, dehydration, weight
loss, increased HR, heart
palpitations, increased
BP, insomnia, dependence, depressio
n

13. Narcotic analegsics
 EG:
Heroin, morphine, pethadi
ne
 Benefits
 Reduced pain from
injury
 Ability to perform when
injured
 Side effects
 Increased risk of further
injury
 Balance/coordination
 Reduced concentration
 Lethargy
 Dependence/addiction
Narcotics and prohibited in
competition

14. Cannabinoids
 Types:
Hashish, marijuana
 Reduced ability to perform
complex tasks
 Benefits
 Continued use:
 None

Loss of motivation
 Side effects

Learning difficulties

Respiratory diseases

Dependence/addiction
 Impairment
 Loss of coordination
and concentration
 Increased heart rate
 Drowsiness
 Hallucinations

15. Glucocortico-steroids
 Power anti-inflammation
medication
 Benefits
 Used to treat
arthritis, asthma, infla
med joints etc
 Side effects
 Fluid retention
 Mood alteration
 Musculo-skeletal
problems (such as
osteoporosis)
Illegal in competition

16. Beta-blockers
 Types:
Acebutlolo, Esmolol
 Benefits
 Reduce body tremor
 Stop hands shaking
 Used in sports where
a steady hand is
required
 Side effects




Lowered BP
Decreased HR
Tiredness
Decreased
performance capacity
in endurance sports

17. Beta-blockers
 Prohibited in the
following sports:








Archery
Billiards
Bobsleigh
Gymnastics
Modern pentathlon
Ski Jumping
Shooting
Wrestling

18. Blood Doping
 Involves infusing extra
human blood (pre
harvested) prior to an
event to increase
aerobic performance
 Can be the athletes or
someone else's blood
 Benefits
 Increased RBC
count, thus improved
O2 devivery
Side effects:
- Thickening of the blood
(increased viscosity)
- Blood clots
- Increased risk of heart
attack/stroke
- Dehydration

19. Illegal Performance
enhancers
 Many athletes still try to take an illegal advantage by
resorting to illegal strategies
 The reason athletes choose to take these illegal
methods are to enhance training and recovery
 Some other reasons could include:

20. Reasons for illegal
performance enhancement
Personal Reasons
(intrinsic)
Environmental Reasons
(Extrinsic)
 Ongoing dissatisfaction with
their own performance
 Friend/peers using and
achieving results
 Lack of progress
 Pressure from a
coach/country to win
 Psychological dependence
 A win-at-all costs mentality
 A belief they can get away
with it
 Financial rewards for
winning
 Fame

21. Considerations
 Coaches/trainers could be carful when providing
different substances (illegal and legal)
 Litigation is likely
 Athletes should weigh up the benefits and cost of
using these enhancers
 These medico-legal issues need to be considered

22. What happens when
you’re caught?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhNjPDg9X5E