Performance enhancing drugs (peds) Learning Objectives To be able to name a range of performance enhancing drugs To be able to explain the positives and negatives of these drugs Content 3.5.5 Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and their positive and negative effects on sporting performance and performer lifestyle, including anabolic steroids, beta blockers, diuretics, narcotic analgesics, peptide hormones (erythropoietin (EPO), growth hormones (GH)), stimulants, blood doping

PEDS PEDS are supplements taken by an athlete so that they can perform better due to additional or enhanced training adaptations. Discuss with a partner all of the reasons why a sports person might take PEDs. PEDs are banned in sport because: They artificially improve performance giving the person an unfair advantage. They have dangerous side effects which could seriously effect health. The world anti-doping agency (WADA) is responsible for testing athletes both in and out of competitions. Drug cheats are a major problem in many sports.

Anabolic Steroids A synthetic hormone resembling testosterone, used to promote muscle growth. Positives: Allows performer to train harder and for longer Leads to better gains in strength and power Quicker muscle recovery after training so can train more regularly Body will lose fat more quickly Negatives Numerous issues including liver dysfunction, kidney tumours, high blood pressure, heart disease, aggression, depression, acne, low sperm count, abnormal menstrual cycles.

Beta Blockers A drug used to control heart rhythm Positives: Have a calm, relaxing effect by slowing body systems down (e.g. heart rate) Can reduce muscle tremor so useful for precision sports (e.g. archery) Negatives Sleep disturbance Low blood pressure Drop in heart rate

Diuretics A drug that reduces the amount of water in the body. Positives: Useful for quick weight loss when needing to make a weight category Good for masking the presence of other PEDs Negatives: Dehydration Nausea Headaches Drop in blood pressure Heart/kidney/liver failure

Narcotic Analgesics Drugs used to suppress pain. Positives: Help to hide injury to allow performer to continue Can allow for harder training Negatives: Nausea and vomiting Loss of concentration Loss of balance/co-ordination Could lead to permanent injury Addiction

Peptide Hormones Protein hormones naturally occurring in the body. Include drugs such as Erythropoietin (EPO) and human Growth Hormone (hGH) Positives: EPO increases the number of red blood cells and therefore increases the oxygen carrying capacity of blood. This is a great advantage for endurance athletes. hGH increases muscle size and strength and decreases body fat with similar benefits to anabolic steroids. Negatives: EPO cause increased blood viscosity and can lead to heart failure/stroke. It can cause deep vein thrombosis and even death. hGH can cause arthritis, brain swelling, heart failure, osteoporosis and impotence.

Stimulants A drug which raises the nervous activity of the body. Positives: Increase the performer’s physical or mental alertness. Can increase confidence and competitiveness. Negatives: Aggression Anxiety Insomnia Irregular and increased heart rate Increased blood pressure Inhibited judgement Addiction

Blood Doping Blood doping is not a drug but is a banned method for improving performance. It involves removing blood and storing it. The body will produce more red blood cells to restore normal levels. The stored blood can then be re-injected to boost red blood cell count. This has similar benefits to EPO and can be hard to detect. Negatives: Blood poisoning / contraction of disease (e.g. HIV) Heart failure High blood pressure Kidney damage

Task The athletes named below have all tested positive for drugs. What advantage were they hoping to gain for their sport? Athlete Activity Drug taken Possible advantage? Tyson Gay Sprinter Anabolic steroids Abderrahim Goumri Marathon runner Blood doping Mariem Alaoui Selsouli 1500m runner Diuretic Nadzeya Ostapchuk Shot-put Kissya Cataldo Single sculls EPO

ELT Research the history of drugs cheats within sport. Find examples of 3 different drugs cheats (each must be from a different sport and not included on the previous slide). Write a report for each explaining: what drug they took how it gave them an advantage what they achieved as a result of this how long they got banned for

Test your Knowledge What does PEDs stand for? Which world-wide organisation are responsible for testing athletes? Why are drugs banned in sport? Which drug is similar to testosterone? Name a sport in which beta blockers would provide an advantage. Which drug could help a boxer to make a weight category? Which drug suppresses pain? Give an example of a peptide hormone. Which drugs’ side effects include aggression, anxiety and inhibited judgement? Blood doping provides similar benefits to which drug?