A3 - NON-NUTRITIONAL ERGOGENIC AIDS

define the term ergogenic aid

any substance or phenomenon that improves an athlete’s performance

• e.g. shoes, drugs, energy drinks etc

what is a placebo

an inactive substance or procedure used as a control in an experiment

what is the placebo effect

when an ineffective intervention has an effect bc the subject believes that it will work

OR a favourable outcome arising from the belief that one has received a beneficial treatment

what do anabolic steroids do

shorten recovery time

outline reasons for a placebo condition in a study

• to control for the placebo effect where the observed effect can only be attributable to IV

• to counteract the psychological effects of increased effort due to perceived effect of the IV

what are the 5 classes of non-nutritional ergogenic aids that are currently by the international olympic (IOC) committee and world anti-doping agency (WADA)

• anabolic steroids

• hormones + related substances

• diuretics + masking agents

• beta blockers

• stimulants

what are anabolic steroids

synthetic variations of the mal sex hormone testostrone

what are hormones and related substances

• doping for instance neurotransmitters like adrenaline and dopamine are involved in the control of many emotional and mental states

  • human growth hormones - grow muscles

  • EPO - boosts red blood cell activity → makes blood thicker → increases oxygen transport

what are diuretics and masking agents

• they increase production of urine to flush out residue from steroids.

• also used to shed water as a temporary weight loss measure in sports with weight categories

what are beta-blockers

slows the heart and reduces BP by blocking the effects of hormones epinephrine (adrenalin)

what are stimulants

raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body

• increases speed that body systems work at

• e.g. caffeine

discuss why pharmacological substances appear on the ist of banned substances

the WADA code states that a substance should b included in the prohibited list if the substance meets 2 of the following 3 criteria

• if the substance has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance

  • does it improve performance

• if the presence of the substance presents an actual or potential health risk to an athlete

  • e.g. health and safety

• if the use of the substance violates the spirit of the sport

  • e.g. if it gives an unfair advantage

discuss the proposed benefits and long term harmful affects some athletes would hope to gain by using anabolic steroids

also include the likely event type for anabolic steroids

event

• events requiring strength and power

• weightlifting, sprinters

benefit

• stimulates and promotes bone maturation to help strengthen bones and increase muscle growth

• an increase in muscle growth leads to an increase in muscle mass

• greater increase in muscle mass when combined with a high protein diet

• aggressive and competitive effects allows performer to train for longer

harmful effects

• skin changes

  • acne, oily scalp and skin

• hormonal changes

  • women - facial hair and deeper voice

  • men - baldness

• CV system

  • high BP, blood clots, heart attacks

• psychiatric

  • aggression, delusions

discuss the proposed benefits and long term harmful affects some athletes would hope to gain by using EPO (erythropoietin)

also include the likely event type for EPO (erythropoietin)

event type

• any endurance event

athletic benefit

• increased O2 carrying capacity

• increased steady state intensity

harmful effects

• dehydration

• increase viscosity of blood

• blood clotting

• increase risk of heart attacks

discuss the proposed benefits and long term harmful affects some athletes would hope to gain by using beta blockers

also include the likely event type for beta blockers

event type

• events using precision, fine motor skills

  • e.g. archery

benefit

• improved performance by reducing stress

• reduced heart rate which improvs hand steadiness and performance in fine motor skills

• 'reduced symptoms of anxiety e.g. hand tremors

harmful effects

• can cause cardiac failure - heart attack

• excessive use may be related to depression

• fatigue

discuss the proposed benefits and long term harmful affects some athletes would hope to gain by using caffeine

also include the likely event type for caffeine

event type

• events where reaction time + focus are important

benefit

• improved concentration

• reduced fatigue/longer time to exhaustion

• improved alterness

• increased energy levels

harmful effects

• induce nervousness

• insomnia

• restlessness

• adduction

• increased blood pressure

discuss the proposed benefits and long term harmful affects some athletes would hope to gain by using diuretics

also include the likely event type for diuretics

event type

• activities where weight loss/control is important

  • e.g. jockeys

benefits

• excrete water for rapid weight loss

• increase urine volume to flush out banned substances

• able to meet a weight category in a weight-class sport

harmful effects

• dehydration

• feeling faint

• affects thermoregulation

• kidney failure

what is EPO

• boosts red blood cell activity → makes blood thicker → increases oxygen transport

• when exercising, brain stimulates production of more EPO