1.2.1b Substance and the sportsperson

Learning objectives

To understand the effect of smoking and alcohol on the performer

To understand why sportspeople take drugs.

To identify the main categories of drugs, who might take them, their effects and side effects.

What do all these have in common?THG

NANDROLONE

THG

NANDROLONE

NANDROLONE

NANDROLONE

Steroid- Stanozol

Performance enhancing drugs

The rewards that come with winning are so great that athletes are increasingly temped to cheat with the use of drugs.

Case study: Probably the earliest the British public were made aware of their own athletes taking drugs to enhance their performance was, in the 1960's, when the death was announced of Tommy Simpson one of Britain's greatest cyclists during the Tour de France.

Why do sportspeople take drug?Why do sportspeople take drug?

Examples of drug use

• Six months ban for jockey over cocaine use [28/01/05]

• US Open winner Kuznetsova in positive drug test claim

• Police raid L'Equipe over Cofidis doping scandal [14/01/05]

• Juventus players caught for taking nandrolone

• Dwain Chambers tests positive for THG• 1998 tour de France scandal

Remember B.A.N.D.S.P.

The I.O.C. attempt to keep sport clean. They produce a list of banned substances. Prohibited drugs are classified in 6 categories.

Beta blockers:

e.g. Atenolol (Alcohol has a similar effect)

Effect: slows heart rate, calms and steadies hands

Athletes: Shooting (target sports), Snooker

Side effects: Reduces heart rate so low that heart may stop, low blood pressure and causes tiredness

The beta-blocker drugs 'sit' on receptors and stop ('block') the receptor from being stimulated.

Anabolic steroids:

Effect: Repair body tissues after stress, promote muscle growth, ability to train harder with less fatigue

Athletes: Athletics (power events) e.g. .... 100m, Shot Putt

Side effects: Females develop male features. Liver & heart damage.

Artificially produced testosterone (MALE HORMONE).

Narcotic Analgesics:

Effect: Reduces pain or an injury

Athletes: All events

Side effects: Nausea, highly addictive, serious injury

‘PAIN KILLERS’ - (paracetamol, morphine, methadone, heroin)

Diuretics:

Effect: Rapid weight loss

Athletes: Boxers, Jockeys

Side effects: Dehydration, Dizziness or light headed

Remove fluid from the body.

Stimulants:

Effect: Reduces tiredness, increased alertness & endurance

Athletes: Any event with a sprint start, Boxing,

Side effects: Raise blood pressure, hide symptoms of fatigue & addictive

Stimulate the body physically and mentally. (Tea, Coffee, Cocaine)

Peptide Hormones:

Effect: Increase oxygen transport ( endurance)

Athletes: Cycling, marathon runners (endurance athletes)

Side effects: blood clots + cardiovascular problems

Naturally occurring hormones can be synthesised in a laboratory (EPO)

- EPO is a hormone which controls red blood cell production.

Are these elite athletes or undetected drug cheats?

Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking and consuming alcohol is legal but becoming less socially acceptable (smoking ban – 2007). Both have harmful side effects and can effect performance capacities.

Nicotine is taken into the blood stream through smoking.

It is an addictive drug, which raises the heart rate and blood pressure

Lung cancer – tars are deposited in the lungs, making them less efficient and can lead to cancer

Increased risk of heart disease

Carbon monoxide reduces the effectiveness of the oxygen-carrying capacity of haemoglobin.

- therefore reduced levels of fitness

Throat cancer

There are other ways smoking can damage health:

Small quantities of alcohol are not harmful to general health, but it does affect performance in sport. It slows reactions and affects judgement.

Alcohol contains the chemical ethanol, which acts on the brain.

Alcohol

Further effects:

Balance, co-ordination and reactions are affected

Diuretic – alcohol can increase water levels in urine and cause dehydration

Loss of body heat – increased blood flow to the skin causes loss of heat

Reduction of glycogen levels and slower lactic acid removal

Judgement affected leading to accidents

Aggressive behaviour