Chapter 9: Performance Enhancing Substances

Ergogenic Aid

Any substance, mechanical aid, or training method that improves sport performance

Drug

substances that change the body’s structure or function

Dietary Supplement

highly refined product that is not classified as a drug or advertised as having therapeutic value

What is the difference between a drug and a dietary supplement

If it is regulated by the US Food and Drug and Administration (FDA)

• Drugs are tightly regulated

• Dietary supplement have minimal regulation, if any

What can be sold as a dietary supplement?

a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet that contains >= 1 of the following dietary ingredients:

• a vitamin

• a mineral

• an herb or other botanical

• an amino acid

• a dietary substance for use by humans to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake

• a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, or extract (or a combination of any ingredient identified above)

Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)

• 1994

• the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the product is safe before it is marketed

• Early studies showed

  • 14.8% of supplements contained prohibited substances

  • 10% of samples were inconclusive

How do substances become banned?

• provide an unfair competitive edge

• pose a significant health edge

NCAA Banned Substances

• stimulants

• anabolic agents (steroids)

• substances banned for specific sports

• diuretics and other urine manipulators

• street drugs

• peptide hormones and analogs

• anti-estrogens

Anabolic Steroid

synthetic derivative of testosterone

Benefits of Anabolic Steroids

• increase in muscle protein synthesis with steroid use → increases lean body mass

• changes occur in both recreationally trained and competitive athletes

Erythropoietin (EPO)

• increased hematocrit (more O2 makes it beneficial)

• increased hemoglobin (increase O2 carrying abilities

Health Risks of EPO

• increased risk of blood clotting

• elevations in systolic BP

• compromised thermoregulatory system

• dehydration during aerobic endurance events

Effects of Anabolic Hormones

Psychological Effects

• aggression

• arousal

• irritability

Adverse Effects

• many side effects are reversible upon cessaion

Importance of creatine in exercise

• ability to rapidly rephosphorylate ADP

• most effective during short duration, high intensity activity