Artificial Performance Enhancement
There are many methods used by athletes to try and cheat and gain an unfair advantage over their competitors. The use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) peaked in the 1980s, but are still well used in certain sports. Fortunately the scientific and medical community generally have been advancing as fast as the drug cheat's laboratories, and hopefully even catching up. Here is a discussion about a few of the methods that are used or have been used in the past by athletes.
Testosterone and other anabolic steroids
Don't Do It
Steroids can be very hazardous to your health. Although there is clear evidence that steroids will help to build muscles, there are many side effects that should discourage their use. Side effects include stunted growth, acne, voice changes, and alteration to the sex organs. As an alternative, it is possible to successfully build muscle though appropriate diet and exercise. Although this may takes a little longer, it is a lot safer for your health.
Testosterone, a male sex hormone, helps build muscle and improve stamina. Testosterone is a substance produced by the body, and artificial doping is considered when elevated levels are found above what is normally expected or if a synthetic form of testosterone found. The drug testers compare the ratio of the amount of testosterone and epitestosterone as this changes when the person boosts their natural testosterone levels. Carbon isotope ratio testing involves a mass spectrometer and can also determine the presence of synthetic testosterone - they can determine the difference between endogenous (naturally produced) and exogenous (came from an external source) testosterone.
Beneficial effects have also been found with similar compounds that also have muscle building effects.
urine testingErythropoietin ( EPO)
EPO is sometimes used by endurance sport athletes such as cycling and long distance running to gain a competitive advantage by increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. EPO acts by increasing the body's own production of red blood cells. It can be dangerous when abused as it can result in thickening of the blood.
Related Pages
- Interesting and amusing excuses from the drug cheats
- Olympic Games Drug Scandals
- Drug testing procedures
- About Urine testing
- More about drug testing with examples
- Olympic Cheats
- Quiz: When was doping banned at the Olympics?
- Poll: Have drug cheats ruined your faith in the Olympic ideal?
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