Performance Enhancing Substances and Performance Enhancing Substances and TechniquesTechniques

Ergogenic aids are used by some athletes to: Improve physical appearance Prevent and/or treat injuries,

illnesses, or disease Cope with stress Increase athletic potential Bridge the “genetic gap”

Three types of Ergogenic Aids: Nutritional aids Pharmacological aids Physiological aids

© iS

tockphoto.com/”M

ax Delson”

Nutritional supplements include: Vitamins and

minerals Protein and amino

acid supplements Carnitine Creatine Caffeine

© iS

tockphoto.com/”M

arie C. F

ields”

Regularly taking megavitamins may cause: Illness Tissue damage Toxic effects to body

Supplements are beneficial when a clear deficiency is indicated

Athletes are advised to increase food intake, resulting in dietary sourcesof vitamins and minerals

© iS

tockphoto.com/”sbarabu”

Benefits/risks of protein and amino acid supplements are fraught with conflicting research findings/evidence

Studies report that ingesting excessive amounts of protein can produce toxic effects due tooverproduction of urea resulting in: Dehydration Muscle cramps Impairment of

thermoregulatory function

© iS

tockphoto.com/”G

2 Design S

tudio”

Carnitine is advertised as a “fat burner” that claims to: Decrease lactate production Increase VO2max Delay fatigue Spare glycogen Induce loss of body fat Enhance aerobic and anaerobic

capacity Experimental data has failed to

support these theories

© iS

tockphoto.com/”pixhook”

Creatine is an oral supplement that claims to increase: Phosphocreatine storage in

muscle Speed Power Strength

Effectiveness of creatine supplement still unclear

More studies need to be conducted on the safety of long-term use

© iS

tockphoto.com/”technotr”

Evidence suggests caffeine increases performance during prolonged endurance and intense short-term exercises Increase alertness Reduces fatigue

Energy drinks contain as much as 80mg of caffeine

Ingesting caffeine can cause: Dehydration Nervousness Irritability

© iS

tockphoto.com/”Lim

ber”

Pharmacological aids include: Pain-masking drugs Anabolic steroids Prohormones Human growth hormone Erythropoietin

© iS

tockphoto.com/”S

ervifoto”

Pain-masking agents (narcotic analgesics) include: Morphine Heroin

Side effects include: Inability to detect pain to

prevent serious or permanent injury from occurring

Physical and psychological dependence

© iStockphoto.com/”Shorrocks”

Athletes take Anabolic steroids to: Increase muscle mass Increase strength Decrease body fat

Harmful side effects include: Organ damage (liver, kidney) Increased cholesterol Increased blood pressure Increased aggression

© iS

tockphoto.com/”vuk8691”

Prohormones are a type of androgenic steroid Use of prohormones (androstenedione in particular)

claim to: Increase physical power Decrease body fat

No scientific data to support these theories Harmful side effects include:

Baldness Breast enlargement (in males) aggression and violent behaviour

Synthetic preparations of the Human growth hormone (HGH) is used to achieve: Increased muscle mass Limited weight gain Improved aerobic endurance

Health risks include: Heart problems Excessive growth of hands and feet Dangerous enlargement of organs (heart,

kidneys, liver)

Erythropoietin (EPO) used by some athletes competing in endurance sports

Shown to cause increase in levels of hemoglobin

Allows more oxygen to be carried to tissues

Higher red-cell count causes heart to work harder

Increases risk of cardiac fatigue and heart failure

Restricted pharmacological substances include: Alcohol Marijuana Local anaesthetics Corticosteroids Beta blockers

© iS

tockphoto.com/”pixhook”

Alcohol Causes:

▪ Sedative effects▪ Confusion▪ Lessen reaction time

© iS

tockphoto.com/”pixhook”

MarijuanaCauses:

Affects psychomotor functionLowers reaction time

© iStockphoto.com/”Limber”

Local Anaesthetics Causes:

▪ Block pain▪ Further injury can

result

© iS

tockphoto.com/”m

evans”

Restricted pharmacological substances include: Corticosteroids:

▪ Used to open airways

▪ Can be toxic

© iS

tockphoto.com/”pixhook”

Beta Blockers Causes:

▪ Can cause low blood pressure

▪ Disrupts sleep patterns

© iS

tockphoto.com/”shorrocks”

Physiological methods include: Blood doping

▪ Intravenous administration of blood, red blood cells, and related blood products:▪ Raises the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity▪ Increases cardiac output▪ Decreases lactate levels▪ Improves sweating response

Drug masking▪ Certain drugs are used to reduce the presence of

banned substances▪ Includes agents that dilute concentration in:

▪ Bloodstream▪ Diuretics

Drug Testing Ensures an even

playing field Test are

performed randomly

Performed year around

© iS

tockphoto.com/”C

hristine Glade”

Ethical Issues What would you do? How would your decision

impact your family,

country, or nation? How would it impact

your future?