13.5: Drugs In Sport Flashcards

1
Q

Doping definition:

A
  • in competitive sports, doping refers to the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs by athletic competitors.
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2
Q

What are the reasons for drug taking and doping?

A
  • a win at-all-costs attitude which dominates modern-day elite sport.
  • the fame and fortune attached to success at elite level (extrinsic rewards/money received for sporting success via prize money; sponsorship deals)
  • high levels of pressure to win (coaches may persuade performers to so they can compete others who are)
  • the lack of effective deterrents and firm belief that they will get away with it and not get caught.
  • poor role models set a bad example that drug taking in certain sports is viewed in some way as being acceptable (e.g. athletics/cycling etc)
  • can also be used for psychological reasons: suffering from confidence
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3
Q

Methods of enhancement:

A
  • anabolic steroids
  • beta-blockers
  • EPO
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4
Q

What are anabolic steroids?

A
  • artificially produced hormones
  • e.g. THG
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5
Q

THG (tetrahydrogestrinone)

A
  • a banned steroid used to increase power which was tweaked by chemists to make it undetectable by ‘normal tests’
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6
Q

Why are anabolic steroids used?

A
  • aid storage of protein and promote muscle growth and development of muscle tissue in the body, leading to increased strength and power.
  • they also lead to less fat in the muscle; a lean body weight.
  • they can improve the body’s capacity to train for longer at a higher intensity and decrease fatigue associated with training.
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7
Q

Which athletes may use anabolic steroids?

A
  • beneficial to power athletes such as sprinters.
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8
Q

What are the side-effects of anabolic steroids?

A
  • liver damage
  • heart and immune system problems
  • acne and behaviour changes such as aggression, paranoia and mood swings.
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9
Q

what are beta-blockers?

A
  • help to calm an individual down and decrease anxiety by counteracting the adrenaline that interferes with performance by preventing it from binding to nerve receptors.
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10
Q

Why are beta-blockers used?

A
  • they can be used to improve accuracy in precision sports through steadying the nerves.
  • they calm performance anxiety and aid performance by keeping the heart rate low and decreasing the tremble in the hands.
  • they work by widening the arteries, allowing increased blood flow and reducing involuntary muscle spasms.
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11
Q

Which athletes may use beta-blockers?

A
  • particularly relevant in high precision sports such as archery, snooker and golf
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12
Q

What are the side effects of beta-blockers?

A
  • tiredness due to low blood pressure and slower heart rate which will affect aerobic capacity.
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13
Q

Stimulants definition:

A
  • drugs there induce a temporary improvement in mental and physical functions (increase alertness and awareness)
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14
Q

Erythropoietin definition:

A
  • a hormone which is naturally produced by the kidneys but can also be artificially produced to increase performance in endurance athletes such as long distance cyclists.
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15
Q

What are the negative implications to the sport?

A
  • threaten integrity of sport
  • negatively damages reputation of the sport and decreases interest of it - e.g. athletics and cycling
  • Tour de farce (2007)
  • provides negative role models for children
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16
Q

What are the positive implications to the performer?

A
  • can positively impact the performance
  • brings them fame and fortune
17
Q

What are the negative implications to the performer?

A
  • negative role models
  • damaging to health - side effects
  • lose good reputation career prospects affected
  • loss of income and sponsorship
  • stripped of medals just like the BALCO scandal
18
Q

What is the UKAD?

A
  • UK Anti-Doping is organisation responsible for protecting UK sport from the threat of drug taking and doping.
  • administers testing programmes of over 40 sports and has a number of strategies to eliminate use of illegal PEDs.
  • works with athletes to increase their knowledge and understanding of dangers of drugs and moral issues associated with doping
  • promote ethically fair, drug-free sport via their ‘100% Me’ programme.
19
Q

Strategies being used to decrease drug usage?

A
  • D: drug-free culture created via education programmes (e.g. 100% Me)
  • O: organisations involved in drug detection/enforcement need to work together
  • P: punishments need to be harder - act as a deterrent. E.g. longer/lifetime bans and the return of career earnings and money gained from sponsorship. Important to adopt a standardised, consistent approach between countries and different sports
  • I: investment is required into new testing programmes/tech - used to ensure they can prevent and detect doping. They work in a co-ordinated manner with other organisations involved in drug detection and prevention such as WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency)
  • N: name and shame negative role models - to try to dissuade others from following their negative example. Positive role models should be promoted, e.g. Chris Hoy.
  • G: guilty lose funding/sponsorship deals -
20
Q

Problems still evident when trying to eradicate drugs in sport:

A
  • sometimes it is difficult to gain immediate access to athletes who may be training abroad
  • ongoing development of new drugs/masking agents which keeps performers wo take drugs one step ahead of the testers
  • sometimes drugs can be taken accidentally means some claim their ‘innocence
  • different sports and countries have different regulations so is difficult to find a universal approach.
21
Q

What are arguments for drug taking?

A
  • battle against drugs is expensive and time consuming
  • drugs are quite easy to access and some would argue that they are difficult to eliminate.
  • detection isn’t always effective =; one step behind as new drugs become available and masking agents are developed
  • if everyone takes drugs there is a level playing field and increases performance standards physiology and psychologically.
22
Q

What are arguments against drug taking:

A
  • gives unfair advantage and are immoral, unethical and against fair play ethic
  • cheating
  • only richer countries can afford them
  • variety of consequences: loss of medals, loss of lottery funding and loss of sponsorship
  • pressure to take drugs increases from coaches and peers who take drugs
  • creates negative role models
  • health risks and side effects