Bachelor of Physical Education May 24, 2022

PED 104

DRUGS IN SPORTS

Dennisse Ayleen B. Barja Jumark M. Diezmo

 Classify the various types of
01 drugs used in sports.

OBJECTIVES
Explain the health risk of
02 performance-enhancing drugs to
users

Identify how drugs in sports are

03 regulated
 PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances used to improve physical ability,
notorious for their illegal use in athletic competitions. While these substances may not be
illegal in general use, their clandestine use in sports, known as doping, is commonly
prohibited.

The history behind drug use in sports goes as far back as ancient times, claiming that
doping might have been present as far back as the ancient Olympic Games. However, in
relatively more modern times, one of the earliest records of doping was during an
endurance walking race where a contestant admitted to using opiates to stay alert.
 CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE IN ATHLETES
The drive to win. For professional athletes, sports are not about fun; but about winning.
There is little care given to the cost of reaching that goal in many cases.

The athletic physical form. In most sports, physique matters only as far as it helps
performance. However, bulking is critical in some sports because appearance or physical
form is central to winning.

The future at large. Many young people who use PEDs are concerned for their future. For
many student-athletes, an athletic scholarship is the only choice for a college education.
High performance is needed before admission and throughout college to maintain the
scholarship. College tuition continues to rise, so these scholarships are even more vital. 35%
of jobs require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, with only 36% accepting a high school
diploma or less, and most do not pay living wages. Many young athletes feel pushed
towards performance-enhancing drug use in sports as a result.
 OTHER DRUG USE AMONG ATHLETES
While the drive to perform at their very best pushes athletes to use drugs in sports, they face
other factors that can cause different kinds of drug abuse.

They have to perform on large stages, with many people’s expectations resting on them. This
pressure predisposes them to mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, and depression.
It can result in drug abuse in athletes, of medications like anxiolytics and antidepressants.

Besides prescription medication, many athletes may turn to illicit substances to deal with mental
health conditions, stressors, and pain that they experience.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
Synthetic drugs that mimic or enhance the effects of testosterone. They encourage
muscle growth. In medical settings, they can be used to treat muscle loss and delay the
onset of puberty. Anabolic steroids can affect sex hormone production in men,
resulting in shrunken testicles, infertility, gynecomastia, and prostate enlargement. In
women, they will begin to develop ‘manly’ features such as baldness, more body hair,
and a bigger clitoris.
There are two types of anabolic androgenic steroids:
Exogenous steroids are synthetically created versions of the testosterone
hormone. These substances cannot be naturally produced by the body.
Endogenous steroids are naturally occurring substances in the human body that
are involved with the metabolic pathways of testosterone.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
HEALTH RISKS:
Can cause high blood pressure, acne, abnormalities in liver function, alterations
in the menstrual cycle in women, decline in sperm production and impotence in
men, kidney failure and heart disease. They can also make both men and
women more aggressive.
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
STIMULANTS
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
STIMULANTS
Drugs that act on the central nervous system by speeding up physical processes.
It can mean increased heart rate and blood flow and elevated body temperature.
Drug abuse in athletes covers both legal, illegal, and prescription stimulants.
Some examples include amphetamines, cocaine, and even nicotine. Stimulants
may negatively affect physical performance, however. This is due to side effects
such as dehydration, heatstroke, and nervousness.

The most common stimulants include amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, and

methylphenidate (Ritalin). Nicotine and caffeine are also frequently used as
stimulants but they are not banned in sports.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
STIMULANTS
HEALTH RISKS:
The risks of using stimulants vary for each drug, but in general, they are high. For
example, cocaine use can cause panic attacks and paranoia, leading to the loss
of smell and problems swallowing, become addictive, and, in rare cases, lead to a
heart attack. Amphetamines can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and
cardiovascular system, and cause hallucinations and violent behavior, while long-
term use can change the structures of the brain involved with memory and
emotion.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE
Human growth hormone naturally occurs within the body. However, synthetic
versions have become very popular within the world of sports. When it occurs
naturally, it helps teens grow their bones during puberty and strengthen the
skeletal structure overall; in medical settings, it can be used to help those who
are not producing enough during puberty or who are fighting certain diseases,
such as HIV. However, it is used in sports for another reason.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE
HEALTH RISKS:
Too much HGH before or during puberty can lead to gigantism, which is excessive
growth in height and other physical attributes. After puberty, inflated levels of HGH
can cause acromegaly, a disease characterized by excessive growth of the head,
feet, and hands. The lips, nose, tongue, jaw, and forehead increase in size and the
fingers and toes widen and become spade-like. The organs and digestive system
may also increase in size, which may eventually cause heart failure. Acromegaly
sufferers often die before the age of 40. Excessive use of HGH in adults may also
lead to diabetes; muscle, joint, and bone pain; osteoarthritis; cardiac limitations;
hypertension; and abnormal heightened symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO)
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO)
A hormone produced by the kidneys in response to insufficient oxygen in the
body cells. It functions by stimulating the production of red blood cells in the
bone marrow. In medical settings, it is used to treat anemia. This substance
increases how much oxygen the muscles get, which helps keep them non-
fatigued and primed.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO)
HEALTH RISKS:
If EPO levels are too high the body will produce too many red blood cells
which can thicken the blood, leading to clotting, heart attack, and stroke. In
fact, EPO has been implicated in the deaths of numerous athletes,
predominantly cyclists. Repeated doses of EPO can also stimulate the
development of antibodies directed against EPO, which can result in
anaemia. The long-term health risks of sustained EPO use are still unclear.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS

BLOOD DOPING
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
BLOOD DOPING
Blood doping is a practice whereby athletes receive blood transfusions or
use synthetic oxygen carriers to increase their blood’s oxygen-carrying
capacity. This equates the more oxygen for the muscles, which comes with a
performance boost. While the athlete’s own blood can be used if stored
ahead of time, same-type blood from a third party is also an option.

Blood doping can present the athlete with the risk of diseases such as HIV,
hepatitis B, and C. Even with the athlete’s blood, there are still risks, such as
blood clots, stroke, and heart attack.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS

BETA-BLOCKERS
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
BETA-BLOCKERS
Beta Blockers work to block the effects of adrenaline. They work to slow the
heart rate, thereby reducing blood pressure, anxiety, and muscle tremors,
and improving the ability to focus. This makes them particularly useful to
athletes performing in sports that require a steady hand such as shooting,
archery, darts, snooker, even golf. Beta Blockers are prohibited by several
sports (darts, racing) during competition, but others (archery, shooting)
prohibit their use at all times.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
BETA-BLOCKERS
HEALTH RISKS:
When used for a legitimate medical reason, for example to treat a heart
condition, high blood pressure anxiety, and under the guidance of a trained
professional, beta blockers have a good safety record.
When used without a legitimate health reason, side effects can include
reduced circulation through the hands and feet, dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth
and drowsiness. More serious (though rare) side-effects can include
impotence, asthma attack, memory loss or heart failure.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
DIURETICS
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
DIURETICS
Diuretics are medications that induce fluid loss from the body through
urination. Reducing the water volume in the body can significantly reduce
weight, which is why this drug abuse in sports appeals to some athletes.
Producing more urine also helps dilute any drug metabolites which may be
in the urine, which is why some athletes use it for masking illegal substances
in their urine.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING DRUGS
DIURETICS
HEALTH RISKS:
Because diuretics promote frequent urination, when used without medical
supervision they can lead to dehydration, dizziness, muscle cramps, and
constipation. Other side effects include tiredness, fever, skin rash, and loss of
appetite. More serious effects include disruptions to the normal rhythms of
the heart, and electrolyte abnormalities, which can affect kidney function.
SIDE EFFECTS OF PEDS
Physical side effects:

Severe acne Aggressive behaviors

Liver tumors Psychiatric disorders

Heart attacks Mania

Stroke Delusions

Testicular cancer Impaired judgement

 New or increased acne

ATHLETES ON
Increased muscle mass

Deepening of the voice of females

DRUGS: Excessive body hair in females

Depression

SYMPTOMS AND Increased appetite

General agitation

SIGNS Anxiety

General swelling
 HOW TO PREVENT THE USE OF
PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS
Current anti-doping measures rely primarily upon the punishment of
athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs.

In younger athletes, disapproval from those closest to them helps deter

their use of drugs in sport more than any other barrier. A focus on
education and helping these athletes see their potential without drugs in
sports is vital to keeping them clean.

Because preventing performance-enhancing drug use is so difficult,

there is now a movement within athletics to simply allow doping.
However, this is problematic because it does not acknowledge the
impact such a decision will have on the health of the athletes who
engage in doping. For now, it would seem that the best approach is to
discourage use and be there to help those who fall into the trap of using
performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
RECAP!

BASEDOWBIOFLU
ANABOLIC STEROIDS STIMULANTS
DRIVE TO WIN
DROOGS IN SPOORTS

SHOPKINS BUSCOPAN DIABETES ALAXAN FR

A S C O R B I C A C I D BIOGESIC OLYMPICS
NEOZEP
DILEMMA HOP ANKLE BREAK DIURETICS

REFEREE MEDICOL
IBUPROFEN

BETA-BLOCKERS
ROBITUSSIN
DANGER
SPORTS PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
Bachelor of Physical Education May 24, 2022

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
REFERENCES:
https://addictionresource.com/guides/drug
s-in-sports/

https://www.science.org.au/curious/people-
medicine/drugs-sport

Dennisse Ayleen B. Barja Jumark M. Diezmo