Anabolic Steroids and Drug Abuse in Sports Drugs and Our Society Part 12 CJUS/HPE 151

Historical Use Not a recent phenomena - chemicals used to enhance performance - old as sports itself Athlete drug use - early concoctions made sense - placebo effect - just thinking / improves performance - increase abilities

Historical Use, cont. No longer believe: - ground hooves of an ass - but belief in the powder - enhance competitor’s self-confidence - why take chances? Greek Olympians - herbs / mushrooms - pharmaceutical action (stimulant)

Historical Use, cont. a. Aztec athletes - cactus based stimulant - resembled strychnine b. Competition developed - tribal societies - war or hunting c. Various psychoactive plants - battles and hunting

Historical Use, cont. d. Used in sports from beginning Early use of stimulants - 1800s / early 1900s - three types: a. Strychnine - rat poison - CNS stimulant (low doses) - larger doses = brain seizures

Historical Use, cont. - convulsions / death (1) Boxers: increased aggressiveness - kept from tiring (2) Thomas Hicks: 1904 Olympics - collapsed end of marathon - brandy and strychnine (3) Amphetamines

Historical Use, cont. - dangerous drugs less attractive (4) Strychnine use continued - world competition into 1960s b. Cocaine - available in 1800s - Mariani’s Coca Wine (French cycle) - “wine for athletes” - pure cocaine was adopted (potent)

Historical Use, cont. c. Caffeine - coffee as a mild stimulant - pure caffeine / caffeine tablets - numerous reports of ‘doping’ - swimmers / cyclists / boxers / runners / etc Then as now - suspicion raised by losers a. Word “dope” applied - Dutch word used in So. Africa - cheap brandy

Historical Use, cont. - given to: race horses / racing dogs - to slow down b. From horses to people - improve performance - people / animals same substances - coca wine / cocaine - before drug testing days Amphetamines

Historical Use, cont. - unknown when started (stimulant effect) - not long after introduction (1930s) a. Widely used in world - during WWII b. 1940s / 1950s: reports of pep pills - professional soccer players (England / Italy) - boxers / cyclists: new energy source

Historical Use, cont. a. More potent than caffeine - longer lasting than cocaine - safer than strychnine b. Ideal ergogenic drug - “energy producing” - both training / competition 1952: Winter Olympics (Oslo)

Historical Use, cont. - syringes / broken ampoules in speed skating locker room - indication: amphetamine presence a. 1952: Summer Olympics (Helsinki) - 1956: Melbourne Olympics - several deaths attributed to drugs b. 1960: Olympic Games (Rome) - amphetamine spread to most sports

Historical Use, cont. - Danish cyclist died / others collapsed - “sunstroke” aided by amphetamines - blood flow / to cool body c. Led to investigation - anti-doping laws (Belgium / France) - others, less concerned International drug testing - began testing / sporadic / cycling

Historical Use, cont. a. 1960s: athletes refusing - failing tests / disqualified b. Early testing efforts: - not prevent death of Tommy Simpson - ex-world cycling champion - 1967: Tour de France c. Seen on TV / drugs found in luggage - two types amphetamines

Historical Use, cont. 1968: IOC – disqualify any who refuse test - or using banned drugs a. Started in Mexico City - fewer than 700 urine tests b. Each subsequent competition - more testing - more disqualifications - more controversy

Historical Use, cont. United States / drug usage in sports - did not seem concerned - 1960s / 1970s reports: football players a. Amphetamine use: major change in US - stay awake / extra energy / lose weight b. Legal / harmless pep pills - football teams ordered large quantities - routine supplies / trainers dispersed

Historical Use, cont. End of 60s: considered drugs of abuse - dangerous / violent behavior a. Players sued NFL - allowed / required to play b. 1972: officially banned - physicians / trainers no longer dispense - no longer condoned by NFL - did little to enforce / request copies

Historical Use, cont. c. Athletes: own physician / illegal means - NFL: players get them / own business - not push athletes beyond endurance d. Current policy: - restricts use of amphetamines - other drugs - no matter where obtained Steroids

Steroids - WWII: malnourished people - gain weight / build up more rapidly - given male hormone testosterone a. Testosterone - male sex hormone - two major effects b. Androgenic effects - masculinizing actions

Steroids, cont. (1) Growth of reproductive organs (2) Deepening voice (3) Increased facial hair c. Anabolic effects - promote constructive metabolism - building tissue

Steroids, cont. (1) Muscle mass - arms / legs / stomach / chest (2) Internal organs - heart muscle / liver / lungs (3) Control body fat - limits throughout body - reduces around waist

Steroids, cont. (4) Protein synthesis - burn more fat (5) Increase calcium - stronger bones 1950s: synthesize various steroids - fewer androgenic effects - more anabolic - “anabolic steroids” (none entirely free)

Steroids, cont. a. Soviet Union: large scale - build up athletes - 1956 Olympics: straight testosterone - excessive doses - unfortunate side effects b. Helps men / women become muscular - masculinity effects on women - enlarged prostate on men - both definite drawbacks

Steroids, cont. c. US team physician: - help develop / test anabolic steroids - quickly adopted (weight lifters / body builders) d. American / British - first to acknowledge use - discus / shotput events e. Widespread use in 1960s

Steroids, cont. - throughout track / field f. Drugs not officially banned - nor tested for until 1970s g. 1976 Olympics: - East German swim coach - women swimmers have deep voices - “come to swim / not to sing”

Steroids, cont. Whether effect or not: CONTROVERSIAL - medical position: they are not - lore in locker room was different a. Anabolic steroids - make anyone bigger / stronger - more masculine looking b. Apparent: more faith in locker room talk - taking no chances

Steroids, cont. Physician’s Desk Reference: - “Anabolic steroids have not been shown to enhance athletic ability.” a. Tell to Ben Johnson (Canadian - 1988) - record in 100 meter run - or competitors b. Testosterone has tremendous effect on muscle mass during puberty

Steroids, cont. c. What is not so clear: the impact of - additional anabolic stimulation - adolescent / adult males - have normal circulating levels REGULATION - drug produces: dependence / violent crime / toxic side effects - justification to place restrictions

Regulation, cont. a. 1988: Congressional Hearings - place on controlled substances list b. Evidence presented: - large black market ($100 million year) - concern for youth (more ‘macho’) c. 1990: Omnibus Crime Control Act - listed under Schedule III - controlled substance

Regulation, cont. - required more record keeping - limited refills Psychological effects - on-going research a. Certain beneficial effects - increases amount of work in training - increases intensity of effort in games

Psychological Effects, cont. b. Negative effects - stimulant-like high - increased aggressiveness (beneficial?) - psychological dependence (depressed) - “roid rage” Adverse effects on body - many concerns about use a. Not achieve full height

Adverse Effects, cont. - premature closing of growth plates of long bones - limits adult height b. Cysts on liver - high blood pressure / heart disease Other dietary supplements a. Androstenedione

Dietary Supplements, cont. - acts as metabolic precursor to testosterone - available as ‘ergogenic agent’ b. Mark McGwire - 1998 hitting season (70 home runs) - used this supplement (legal) c. No other sport allows except baseball