Use of Drugs

BikiCrumbs: Use of Drugs

Ergogenic aid: anything that is performance enhancing, can delay onset and perception of fatigue, quicken recovery, mask pain etc

Ergogenic aids can be:

Prohibited classes of drugs: stimulants, narcotics, anabolic steroids, diuretics

Using Drugs for Strength

Human growth hormone: a naturally occurring substance that increases the rate at which amino acids are transported to skeletal muscle cells
Taken to increase muscle size and strength
Mobilises fat for energy (decreases body fat)
Long term effects: muscle weakness, gigantism, heart disease, cancer, infertility
Anabolic steroids: synthetic derivatives of testosterone, causes the development of masculine characteristics (incl tissue building)
Effects: liver damage, masculine appearance + infertility in women, aggressiveness
Esp. in weightlifting, body building etc

Erythropoetin (EPO)

Diuretics

Alcohol

First at the Mexican Olympics 1968
Sydney: only urine samples (doesn’t test for EPO and HGH)
Can be done: randomly, in bulk, according to positions
Sample is divided: A and B. If A is positive, they test B. The appropriate sporting organisation is informed of the B result
Athlete must comply or the test is deemed positive

Arguments For The Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (Ethical Perspective)

Performance enhancers allow athletes to train better through size and strength gains that they were unable to achieve before.
Performance enhancement increases the entertainment value of the sport.
Performance enhancement is part of sports technology that helps to advance the development of sport.

Arguments Against The Use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (Ethical Perspective)

Performance enhancers allow athletes to cheat by artificially increasing size or strength without training.
Performance enhancement diminishes the integrity of sport.

Pros of Drug Testing

A uniform code of testing ensures the rules would be consistent from sport to sport and country to country. No sport or athlete could gain an advantage under local rules.
Random tests are much more efficient than restricted testing periods, which give offenders an advantage in flushing drugs from their bodies and in timing their periodic cycles of use.
Professional athletes who belong to a union would not face lower standards created in the give-and-take of collective bargaining. Professional leagues would not be able to bargain away higher standards in return for financial concessions.

Cons of Drug Testing

Drug testing is inconsistent, and false positives are prevalent. A career could be damaged by a faulty test.
What is classified as "performance enhancing" in one sport might not provide an advantage in another. One-size-fits-all testing does not take into consideration the actual effects of the substance on athletic performance.
Professional athletes have a right to bargain with owners over every aspect of their careers. To give up that right gives owners an unfair advantage.