1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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?