Contemporary issues in physical activity and sport Flashcards
(34 cards)
Deviance
Behaviour that differs from the norms/values of a sport
Drugs and Doping
- Substances used to improve/change human performance
- Banned list (illegal drugs in sport) is decided by WADA (World Anti-doping Agency)
- Those on the banned list are usually because they are considered PED’s (Performance Enhancing Drugs)
Examples of PED’s/banned substance in sport
- hGH (human growth hormone)
- Anabolic steroids
- Beta Blockers
- EPO (erythropoietin)
- Blood doping
hGH (human growth hormone) - Impacts
Impacts:
Increases bone, muscle and cartilage growth. Occurs naturally in the body. Improved power and strength.
Anabolic Steroids - Impacts and Side Effects
Impacts:
Forms of testosterone, which stimulates muscle growth and increased aggression. Therefore, alongside training, it can increase muscle mass. Also increases recovery and repair. Generally used for power, but can be used by any athlete to aid recovery.
Side Effects:
- Females develop male features
- Liver and heart damage
Beta Blockers - Impacts and Side Effects
Impacts:
Control the heart rate, and therefore act to calm nerves and steady the heart beat. Used in sports where fine motor skills are required, an in particular a steady hand for successful performance.
Side Effects:
- Reduces heart rate so low that it may possibly stop
- Low blood pressure
- Causes tiredness
EPO (erythropoietin) - Impacts and Side Effects
Impacts:
Occurs naturally in the body and is the hormone controlling red blood cell production. Therefore, taking a synthetic version of this hormone stimulates production of new red blood cells and therefore O2 carrying capacity. Improved endurance.
Side Effects:
- Possible blood clots
- Cardiovascular problems
Blood Doping - Impacts and Side Effects
Impacts:
Removing blood from the body temporarily which is held in storage to stimulate new blood cell creation. This is then re-transfused before the sporting event which will increase red blood cell count = increased O2 carrying capacity. Improved endurance.
Side Effects:
- Increased blood viscosity
- Increased risk of heart attack
- Cerebral embolism (a blockage, formed elsewhere in the body, which becomes lodged in an artery within or leading to the brain).
- Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
- Infections and risk of blood-boure diseases (HIV, HEP B/C)
Examples of legal supplements in sport
- Creatine
- Caffeine
- Carbohydrate replenishment
Creatine
Improves recovery of ATP/PC energy system
Caffeine
Help athletes train harder and longer. Clearer thinking and greater concentration
Carbohydrate Replenishment
Aid energy replenishment (powders/gels, sports drinks, energy bars, carb loading)
Advantages of taking legal supplementation
- Can increase performance
- Help with dietary
- Aids recovery
- Builds muscle, increase stamina, weight control, improving flexibility
Disadvantages of taking legal supplementation
- Can contain banned substances or be seen to be tampered with during packaging stages
- Concerns over taking substances over a long period of time
- Can cause dehydration (creatine)
- Cost
What are the reasons for illegal drug use in sport?
Physiological reasons:
- Improve performance by altering the body physically i.e. anabolic steroids for increased strength
Psychological reasons:
- Improve performance through altering brain function i.e. anabolic steroids for increased aggression etc.
Social reasons:
- Pressure to win from coaches, peers, country, politics and media
- Belief everyone else is doing it
- Belief they will not get caught (ahead of drug testing)
- Win at all costs attitude; particularly for fame and fortune/keep sponsors
- State sponsored programmes
Sporting examples for illegal drug taking in sport
- Lance Armstrong stripped of 7 Tour de France titles and banned from cycling for using the banned performance-enhancing substances EPO (2012)
- Russia’s Olympic ban for state-sponsored doping (2021)
Consequences of drug use on performer
- Improved performance: therefore increases the chance of winning, and gives them an unfair advantage
- Physiological Health: health problems, addiction and lowered life expectancy/death i.e. liver disorders, heart problems, sexual problems etc.
- Psychological Health: mental health issues i.e. Mood swings, behaviour problems, increased aggression, depression
- Punishment: Law breaking of the legal system and/or sport, and consequently athlete may be banned, fined, loose medals/titles
- Reputation: ruined career and reputation
Consequences of drug use on sport
- Values: challenges the concept of fair play in sport
- Sponsors: loss of sponsors for ‘tainted’ sport because of the bad image
- Lowered participation: because of the negative image surrounding the sport, people choose not to participate/ not let children participate in it
- Lowered public support: because of the negative image surrounding the sport, people choose not to spectate and put their money into that sport
- False Records/Results: because the drugs give an unfair advantage to a performer, and are not always caught
Consequences of drug use on society
- Negative role models: negative effect on society, particularly the value of healthy lifestyles
- Reflection of society: shows society as ‘win at all costs’ or that sport is a reflection of a corrupt society with unethical citizens
- Implement ban: society may have to make rules to ban all athletes using drugs
- Legalise/accept drugs: or, society may possibly accept their athletes as drug takers and make it legal
- Drug Testing: enable more effective drug testing processes to be developed in response to new drugs being created
Strategies to stop illegal drug use in sport?
- Stricter punishments: life bans, loss of prize money/sponsorship, loss of medals.
- Improved testing: stricter, random, more regular testing, out of season testing.
- Education: of coaches and performers, particularly on the health dangers and legal issues.
- Legalisation of drugs.
- Research and increased funding: on newer drug detection methods.
- Use of role models: to encourage drugs free sport, ‘name and shame’ cheats.
Violence in sport
Intense physical force that is directed towards harming an individual or group, or property. Can be separated into two sub-categories:
- Player violence - happens within the game
- Spectator violence - happens between spectators, before, during or after the game
Cause of both player and spectator violence
- Frustration; with referee decisions, score, performance
- Importance of game/result; monetary reward, cup match, league position decider, rivalry, derby
Causes of player violence
- Provoked/ retaliation; by opponent, by teammates, crowd abuse, racism, violence on pitch copied
- Nature of game; contact sports, rules encourage violence
- Dehumanising Weapons and kit; dehumanising protective gear, equipment which could be used as weapon i.e. hockey stick
- Drugs; testosterone, ‘roid rage’ from steroids
Causes of spectator violence
- Alcohol/social drugs; people lose their inhibitions, become more brave
- Poor spectator provision: overcrowding, poor stewarding, poor policing
- Hooligans; organised violence, looking for a fight, used as an outlet of ‘energy’
- Deindividuation; loose sense of individual identity in a crowd, and this diminished responsibility can cause violence when you usually wouldn’t be violent (lack of accountability)
- Imitating violence on the pitch
