VCE Physical Education - Unit 4 Chapter 15 Anti Doping codes and practices

Ergogenic Aids Performance enhancement: nutrition, diet and considerations

VCE Physical Education - Unit 4 Performance Enhancing Substances An ergogenic aid is any substance or technique that improves or is thought to improve physical performance. Ergogenic means ‘work-producing’. Often called ‘doping’ however not all aids are illegal. The word doping is probably derived from the Dutch word dop, the name of an alcoholic beverage made of grape skins used by Zulu warriors in order to enhance their prowess in battle. The pressure to succeed and the attractions of fame and fortune have often led athletes to take banned drugs in order to perform better than their bodies would normally let them.

A user of performance-enhancing drugs has an unfair advantage over an athlete who doesn’t use such drugs. Preventing and detecting drug use have therefore become major problems in elite sport. Athletes are regularly tested by both national and international bodies to make sure that their performances are not being boosted by banned substances or practices. VCE Physical Education - Unit 4

Anti-Doping Initiatives Drugs have been used as early as 400BC in the ancient Greek games. The Romans used mixtures of plant extracts and herbs in gladiators and chariot horses. Athlete commonly used drugs until drug testing was introduced in the late 1960’s. Modern doping began in 1935 when the Nazi’s used testosterone injections in their athlete’s 1936 team. Later used by the Soviets. Those involved has ‘turned a blind eye’ to the side effects and ethical implications of taking drugs. After drug use was wide spread at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, countries spoke out against performance aids and their side effects.

VCE Physical Education - Unit 4 Anti-Doping Initiatives Anti-doping development took place in 1960 in Europe. The televised death of drug taker Tommy Simpson in 1967 (right) shook the athletics world. The IOC then become actively involved. First drug tests were conducted at the 1968 Olympics A list of banned substances was constructed by the IOC. The USA developed a synthetic form of testosterone called anabolic steroids in Athletes continued to take drugs during the 1960s and 70s. The East Germans didn’t follow protocol and were very ‘successful’ at international competitions (See Heidi Krieger). Coaches and athletes worked out methods of ‘beating’ the drug tests

VCE Physical Education - Unit 4 Anti-Doping Initiatives The 1980’s saw the introduction of human growth hormones (GBH) and synthetic GBH. Both were undetectable In the 1990’s, erythropoietin (EPO) became the drug of choice. It is very hard to detect as it is a naturally occurring hormone. Sydney 2000 was the first accurate EPO test. Analytical measures such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry where therefore introduced. Ben Johnson (right) was famously stripped of his m gold medal for steroid use. Procedures and standards for laboratories were set up by the IOC In 1999 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established after the drug taking in the tour de France scandal. In 2003 all major federations and governments signed a Anti-doping code. In the 2004 Olympic games: 3000 drug tests were conducted with 23 athletes being found positive of banned drugs.

VCE Physical Education - Unit 4 Why do Athletes take Drugs? Self – Ego compels them to be successful Coach, family, peers, spectators – Pressure to succeed Media – Wanting to be successful sports ‘star’. Promotion/financial rewards – Cutting corners to succeed Social – To stand out from other competitors National Recognition – Wanting to represent country; highest level of sport. Physical advantage – Strength and muscle mass (Steroids, anabolic agents) Counteract undesirable side effects (Hormones) Mask the presence of banned substances (Diuretics) Increase alertness and/or aggressiveness (Caffeine/ Amphetamines) Reduce pain (Narcotics)

VCE Physical Education - Unit 4 Drug Testing Australia’s federal drug testing body, the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA), may test athletes for drugs at any time. Testing is more likely to occur, however, just before and just after major competitions. Other bodies which regularly test athletes include the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), national anti-doping organisations, and international sports federations. The drug-testing procedure is a very complicated one. After being told that they will be tested, athletes must attend a laboratory and provide a urine and/or a blood sample in front of an official. Athletes who fail to provide samples will be reported to the governing bodies of their respective sports.

VCE Physical Education - Unit 4 Drug Testing Before giving their samples athletes may declare any vitamins, supplements or medicines that they have been taking. This means that athletes will not be unfairly penalized for taking medical drugs under orders from their doctors. Every blood or urine sample that an athlete gives is divided into two parts. If the first part tests ‘positive’ for drugs, the athlete can ask to have the second part tested in order to confirm the result of the first test. Athletes who return ‘positive’ drug tests are told the news in writing by the drug agency that conducted the tests. An athlete who believes that there has been a mistake is allowed to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). The AAT is a federal government body set up to check claims that other federal government ministers and officials may have acted unfairly. Unless the athlete’s appeal is successful, penalties and suspensions are then decided - not by the drug testing agency, but by the governing body of the sport in question.