Drugs and Sports

Geral information:-When you exercise, your nervous system is naturally aroused. Yours stimulated nervous system boosts production of hormones, including adrenaline (epinephrine).These hormones increase the amount of blood your heart pumps, resulting in more blood for muscles and a release of sugar (glucose)from the liver and of fatty acids from body fat to serve as fuel for the muscles. These effects are important to anyone who is exercising. The increased blood flow ensures that the muscles receive a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients and potentially toxic waste products produced by the accelerated metabolism are more quickly removed.                                                                                  

At times, athletes have used drugs or other substances in abnormal quantities with the sole intention of improving performance in an artificial, unfair manner, such risky practices are called “doping”. In some cases, a medical disorder is treated with banned drugs that may also boost on athlete’s performance in competition in an artificial or unfair manner. These practices not only give the athletes an unfair advantage but also can threaten his or her death.                                                                          

SYMPATHOMIMETIC  AMINES:-Some professional & world-class athletes have admitted  using sympathomimetic amines, a class of stimulant drugs that mimic the natural effects of a stimulated sympathetic nervous system .These drugs can increase alertness and physical endurance as well as postpone the onset of fatigue; they have banned by most athletic organizations including the international Olympic committee. 

PSYCHOMOTOR STIMULANT DRUGS:-        Athletes also have been disqualified for using psychomotor stimulant drugs. The most common street name for these drugs is speed. Other slang names include bennies, dexies, greenies and pep pills. The effects of psychomotor stimulants are not unlike those of sympathomimetic amines. They increase heart rate, respiration and blood pressure and generally heighten the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. These drugs also affect the brain.

BETA-2AGONISTS:-These medications often are used in the treatment of asthma & other respiratory ailments. Like ephedrine, they can have stimulant properties. Currently they are banned when taken orally, but their use is permitted in aerosol or inhalant forms. 

                                                                            

NARCOTIC ANALGESICS:-They also may increase the pain threshold so than an athlete may fail to recognize injury, leading to more serious injury .These drugs have been banned by the international Olympic committee.

                                   

ANABOLIC STEROIDS:-Anabolic steroids have several legitimate medical uses. They are used to treat skeletal and growth disorders and certain types of anemia to off set the negative effect of irradiation and chemotherapy. Other undesirable effects associated with abuse of anabolic steroids include an increased thinning of hair or hair that falls out and acne. Another concern is the effect that drug has on behavior, which may result in increased aggressiveness.  

                                            

BETA BLOCKERS:-These are drugs commonly used in cardiovascular disease to lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate .Beta blockers also block stimulatory responses. Thus, they have been used in sports such as shooting to steady the trigger finger and relax the nerves. This use is considered doping, and therefore these drugs have been banned.

                                                                                            

GROWTH HORMONE:-Use of this hormone is considered doping by the US Olympic-committee-andis-therefore

prohibited.                                                               

DIURETICS:-Diuretics increase the elimination of fluid from the body as urine .The use of diuretics can affect the balance of such minerals as potassium and sodium in the body and can result among other things, in heart arrhythmias and even death.                                                                                                                

BLOOD DOPING:-Blood doping is the intravenous administration of red blood cells or related blood products for reasons other than a medical need .The risk of receiving blood from another doner includes the development of allergic reactions, viral hepatitis and AIDS .The practice of blood doping also is banned by the international Olympic committee.

                                                                                     

CORTICOSTEROIDS:-The use of corticosteroids is banned by the international Olympic committee if the drugs are taken by mouth or injected  into a muscle or a vein .Corticosteroids can be used topically(in the ear, eye or skin)in local or intra-particular injections such as for bursitis, or in inhalation therapy for disorders such as asthma . 

           

DANGERS AND RISKS:-The abuse of anabolic steroids and other drugs is often front page news. The problem is international in scope, involving professional and amateur athletes who participate in a wide range of sports.

                                                         

This elevated level of consciousness of the problem has led to more drug testing. The result is that today there are two important reasons for an athlete not to get his or her “competitive edge” from anabolic steroids or other medications. First, these drugs can put your future as an athlete at risk because of the bans and penalties now meted out for offenders’ .second, and even more important, these drugs might put your health at risk.