Foundation Level

Topic- Consequences of Doping

Use of prohibited substances and methods in sports goes against the spirit of fair
play. It also damages the athlete’s health and social life. Here’s a look at the risks
associated with the use of performance enhancing prohibited substances:

(1) Health
The use of Performance-enhancing Drugs (PEDs) may have long- and short-term
impact on the Athlete’s physical and mental health.

Depending on the substance, the dosage and the duration of use, some PEDs have
been proven to have severe side effects and can cause irreversible damage to an
Athlete’s body. Few of the negative impacts of several doping substances have been
outlined below:
ANABOLIC AGENTS

The primary medical use of these substances is to treat delayed puberty, some types
of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by muscle-wasting diseases. Some
physiological and psychological side effects of anabolic steroid abuse have potential
to impact any user, while other side effects are gender specific. The following list is
not comprehensive but gives a snapshot of the effects that testosterone use can
have in healthy athletes.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 Acne
 Male pattern baldness
 Liver Damage*
 Premature closure of the growth centres of long bones (in adolescents) which
may result in stunted growth*
 Increased aggressiveness and sexual appetite, sometimes resulting in
abnormal sexual and criminal behaviour
 Withdrawal from anabolic steroid use can be associated with depression, and
in some cases, suicide.
Gender Specific- Male

 Breast tissue development*

 Shrinking of the testicles*
 Impotence
 Reduction in sperm production.
 Gender Specific - Female
 Deepening of the voice*
 Cessation of breast development
 Growth of hair on the face, stomach and upper back*
 Abnormal menstrual cycles.

SARMs

SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) are designed to work like

Testosterone, however they are experimental and not approved for human use. For
this reason, the full side effects are unknown, however given that SARMs act in a
similar manner as steroids, similar health risks as those listed above for other
anabolic agents would be expected. Initial research also shows that using SARMs
puts users at risk of organ failure.

HUMAN GROWTH HORMONES, PEPTIDE HORMONES AND RELATED

SUBSTANCES

The primary medical use of these substances vary, but some are used in the
treatment of cancer or medical conditions affecting growth or regulation of the
endocrine (hormonal) system. The presence of an abnormal concentration of a
hormone, its metabolites, relevant ratios or markers in your sample is deemed to
contain a prohibited substance unless you can demonstrate the concentration was
due to a physiological or pathological condition. Examples include human growth
hormone (HGH), insulin, human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), and
adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH).

Physiological Effects

 Hypertension
  Heart attacks
 Thyroid problems
 Severe headaches
 Loss of vision
 Acromegaly (Protruding or enlarged jaw, brow, skull, hands and feet)
 High blood pressure and heart failure
 Diabetes and tumours
 Crippling arthritis.

BLOOD DOPING AND EPO

Blood doping is the practice of misusing certain techniques and substances to

increase the red blood cells in the body. There are three widely known substances or
methods used for blood doping, namely, erythropoietin (EPO), synthetic oxygen
carriers and blood transfusions*. The primary use of blood transfusions and synthetic
oxygen carriers are for patients who have suffered massive blood loss, either during
a major surgical procedure or caused by major trauma. EPO is used in the treatment
of anaemia (low blood count) related to kidney disease. However, misuse of these
substances and techniques could lead to a range of serious health effects.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 Increased stress on the heart

 Blood clotting
 Strokes
 Heart attacks
 Pulmonary embolism

*With transfusions, there is an increased risk of infectious disease such as AIDS or

hepatitis.

Beta-2 Agonists
The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat conditions such as asthma
and other respiratory ailments. Some studies have shown beta-2 agonists have
performance-enhancing effects when consistently high levels are present in the
blood.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 Palpitations
 Headaches
 Sweating
 Nausea
 Muscle cramps
 Nervousness

Diuretics

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat conditions such as

hypertension, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. Taken without medical
supervision, diuretics can result in potassium depletion and possibly even death.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 Dehydration
 Muscle cramps
 Dizziness or fainting
 Drop in blood pressure
 Loss of coordination and balance

STIMULANTS

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat conditions such as Attention
Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD), narcolepsy (sleep problems), and obesity. Stimulants
have also been found in supplements, like pre-workouts, found on supermarket and
supplement store shelves. One should make a habit of only using batch tested
supplements to reduce your risk of consuming a dangerous stimulant inadvertently.

Physiological Effects

 Insomnia
 Anxiety
 Weight Loss
 Dependence and addiction
 Dehydration
 Tremors
 Increased heart rate and blood pressure
 Increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrhythmia.

Cannabinoids (Marijuana)

Marijuana is classified by Congress as a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled

Substances Act (CSA). This means that it has a high potential for abuse, no
accepted medical use in the United States, and lacks accepted safety data for use
under medical supervision. Side effects of cannabinoid use include:

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 Increased heart rate

 Impaired short-term memory
 Slowed coordination and reaction of reflexes
 Diminished ability to concentrate
 Distorted sense of time and space
 Respiratory diseases

NARCOTICS/ OPIODS
In small doses opioids have medical uses that include relieving severe pain.
However, opioid overdose is a medical emergency and can lead to respiratory
depression and even death. The misuse of opioids such as morphine, codeine and
oxycodone can cause many health risks.

Physiological Effects

 Gastrointestinal problems like nausea, vomiting and constipation

 Failure to recognise injury
 Loss of balance, coordination and concentration
 Suppressed respiratory system
 Physical and psychological dependence; leading to addiction.

Corticosteroids

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat allergies, asthma,

inflammatory conditions, and skin disorders among other ailments.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 Loss of muscle mass

 Weakening of injured areas in muscle, bone, tendon, or ligament
 Decrease in or cessation of growth in young people

Beta Blockers

The primary medical use of beta-blockers is to control hypertension, cardiac

arrhythmias, angina pectoris (severe chest pain), migraine, and nervous or anxiety-
related conditions.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

 Lowered blood pressure

 Slow heart rate
 Sleep disorders
 Spasm of the airways
In addition to the physical aspects, scientific research has shown that there is a
considerable correlation between the use of PEDs and mental health issues. Most
commonly, it was found that the use of doping substances can trigger anxiety,
obsessive disorders or psychosis.

(2) Social
The existence of an athlete who was held guilty for doping may be completely
disrupted. Being associated with doping or a doping offence will have an impact on
the person’s reputation and social relations. In the public view, Athletes or other
persons convicted of doping are often considered “cheaters” and experience many
forms of stigma.

Doping has a significant negative impact on the person’s private life and social
interactions as people may feel that they no longer want to be connected to
someone who has damaged the reputation of a sport and displayed poor judgement.

Indeed, doping may represent a danger for the health but it may also be prejudicial
to the fame, respect and creditworthiness. Even future negative findings are regularly
questioned by the media and the entourage. The poor image will remain in the
collective unconscious and the athlete will remain isolated.

(3) Sanctions
An Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) will have an impact on an Athlete’s ability to
train and compete. For coaches and other Athlete support personnel, a ban may
mean that they are no longer able to work with Athletes. A sanction resulting from an
ADRV can range from a warning to a lifetime ban from all sport.

It is also important to note that individuals banned in the sport will also be prohibited
from competing, coaching or working with Athletes in any other capacity in a different
sport.

It is also against the Code to work with Athlete Support Personnel (coaches, trainers,
physicians or other) who are ineligible on account of an ADRV, or those who have
been criminally convicted or professionally disciplined in relation to doping.
Beyond the legal consequences, an increasing number of public authorities and
governments have adopted legislations that treat doping as a criminal act.
Consequently, in addition to being ineligible to coach or compete, you may face
criminal charges in your country. Depending on the national legislation and the
degree of the violation, charges can lead to fines, social service requirements and
even incarceration. 

(4) Financial
A ban resulting from an Anti-Doping Rule Violation will have a significant financial
impact on the individual. For Athletes, this includes, but is not limited to, the
requirement to return prize money or a financial sanction imposed as a result of an
ADRV. Other effects of doping include termination of contracts and sponsorship
deals, loss of government funding and other forms of financial support.

As regards high-performance sport, an infringement of anti-doping rules often

leads to a loss of income, the reimbursement of prize money and of the
sponsorship money. An athlete suspended for several years, or even life-
banned, cannot earn his/her living as usual and can even be forced into debts
to live on a day-to-day basis.

TIPS FOR HEALTHY SPORTING LIFE

Health professionals including sports physicians and sports dietitians advise that
athletes can get the best performance results by maintaining a healthy diet for their
training and competition needs, getting enough sleep, keeping hydrated and putting
in lots of really hard work.

It is recommended that athletes have a varied and nutritious diet filled with good
amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Bananas are a good source of energy
helping to improve the digestive system and kidneys. Chicken and natural protein
sources are good for building and maintaining muscle mass and foods that are rich
in vitamins such as broccoli help the body recover faster from injuries and muscle
fatigue. 
Sleep is vital for the health and performance of all athletes. Professionals
recommend athletes get up to seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Inadequate
sleep can result in fatigue, a lack of concentration, and can slow the recovery
process.

Adequate hydration is one of the most important parts of an athlete’s diet.

Maintaining good hydration levels can help sustain body volume, and regulate body
temperature. It also helps reduce the risk of heat stress, maintain muscle function
and prevent a decrease in performance and fatigue.