Drugs and values in sports

Date: 07-04-2003 Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamPhilippines

Last week, I wrote about the use of caffeine, narcotics and beta-blockers in certain sports to achieve certain effects. Caffeine use is especially popular with runners and cyclists who hope to increase the effects of maximal oxygen consumption and endurance. Last week, I wrote about the use of caffeine, narcotics and beta-blockers in certain sports to achieve certain effects. Caffeine use is especially popular with runners and cyclists who hope to increase the effects of maximal oxygen consumption and endurance.
Beta-analgesic blockers are banned in such sports such as shooting and modern pentathlon. While these drugs are medically used to prevent migraines, cardiac arrhythmia and treat hypertension, anxiety and movement tremors, athletes use them to reduce anxiety and nervous tension.

Diuretics were banned from the sports scene in April 1986. These drugs are helpful to athletes who need to lose weight to meet weight limitations during competition.

Diuretics promote weight loss by dehydrating fat that is actually 70 percent water. Diuretic-induced weight loss may cause leg- and stomachmuscle cramps. It can hamper the body’s ability to regulate its temperature, causing exhaustion, severe electrolyte imbalance, cardiac arrhythmia and ultimately cardiac arrest and death. One of the victims of diuretic abuse was the 1980 International Federation of Body Builders (IFBB) Mr. Universe who died of a heart attack.

The case against performance-enhancing drugs has become a virtual race between the abusers and the authorities. On the one hand, the authorities have succeeded in developing even more sophisticated testing equipment to determine drug use. One the other hand, drug abusers have been experimenting with new kinds of drugs to avoid detection. Among the new breed of performance enhancers are growth hormones, blood doping and erythropoletin.

The damage inherent in the abuse of the human growth hormone (HGH) was first exposed by Terry Todd, former champion weightlifter, and now professor of kinesiology. HGH is a potent anabolic hormone that is naturally produced and secreted by the human pituitary gland to regulate growth and development. The HGH has traditionally been harvested from cadavers, the reason why these hormones are very expensive. With the formulation of the recombinant DNA-synthesized GH in 1986, the use of growth hormones became more affordable. Compared with anabolic-androgenic steroids, growth hormones are not as effective. However, when used in tandem with either steroids or testosterone, growth hormones can be very effective. Growth hormones stimulate the growth of all tissues, even the internal organs. This often leads to complications such as enlargement of the spleen and liver, hypertrophy in the skin, tongue and bones. A condition like acromegaly, with symptoms such as enlargement of the nose, fingers, ears and toes and the over development of the soft tissues of the hands, feet, jaw and forehead also develops after continued use of these hormones. Blood doping entails infusing extra blood into the body to increase the amount of red blood cells carrying oxygen to the muscle cells. There are two methods used in blood doping. One involves the use of blood from a donor. This is referred to as homologous blood doping. With the threat of deadly diseases such as aids, however, a new method was developed.

Instead of getting blood from a donor, the athlete’s own blood is used. Approximately two pints of the athlete’s blood is removed eight to 12 weeks before competition. A day or two before the competition, the two pints of previously harvested blood is thawed. Red blood cells carrying oxygen are separated and infused back to the body. Through blood doping, it is believed that the oxygen consumed by the body is replenished faster. This gives the athlete increased endurance and reduced stress.

Erythropoletin is a natural hormone capable of increasing the body’s level of red blood cells by 25 to 30 percent. It can be produced synthetically and is used by athletes in place of blood doping.

While blood doping and the use of erythropoletin has been banned, the officials of the IOC and other sports organizations are still having a difficult time enforcing this, since there is purportedly no drug test to determine the use of these methods.

The use of performance-enhancing drugs is one of the most pervasive and controversial issues that the international sports community has faced in recent years. Unfortunately, it is also a problem with no realistic solution in sight. Responding to the problem of drug use and abuse in sports necessitates a complete overhaul of the international sports system.

The high premium placed on turning out exceptional performances and breaking world records, not to mention the innumerable perks that await the successful athlete, has created a culture in the sports community where winning becomes the be-all and end-all of existence. Unless a redefinition of the focus and priorities of sportsmen and women is undertaken, athletes will still continue to use these drugs hoping to gain the competitive advantage that will propel them to sports superstardom.