DRUGS  IN SPORT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRUGS IN SPORT

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this booklet you should be able to:-

1] Know why Athletes take drugs to enhance performance.

2] Know what effects STIMULANTS, ANABOLIC STEROIDS and BLOOD DOPING has on performance and the body.

 

WHAT ARE DRUGS?

Drugs are chemicals occurring in natural forms or made in laboratories which can alter normal functioning of the body in some way. They can affect a person’s physical or emotional conditions or both. Some drugs can even change mood or behaviour. Some drugs are legal and some are not. Some drugs, when used medically, can be an aid to fight illness and disease.

However, ALL drugs can be dangerous when abused. In Sport, performers have always taken various drugs in order to improve their performance. It is considered unfair and dangerous to use drugs to enhance performance and athletes who are found to be using them are subject to harsh penalties. But in spite of the effects of national and International Dope Testing some Athletes and performers continue to take drugs.

READ PAGES 150 - 152 "Fundamentals of Health and P.E."

79 - 86 "Sport Examined"

and summarise the notes on

1] STIMULANTS

2] ANABOLIC STEROIDS

[Refer to types of drugs and the effect they have on the body and performance]

3] BLOOD DOPING

As athletes are forced to increase training loads, injuries caused by muscle over-use are a serious problem. Many athletes are unwilling to rest despite the pain and use pain killers instead. Many young athletes have been forced to stop competing because they ignores the warning signs and took pain killers, thereby, causing irreparable damage to their bodies.

 

There is no easy answer to the problem of drugs in sport, but it is a problem which must be addressed if for no other reason than the dangers to the health of the athlete.

 

 

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON

"PERFORMANCE - ENHANCING DRUGS"

Using the booklet, ‘Fundamentals of health and P.E." and "Sport Examined"

1] SUGGEST TWO REASONS WHY ATHLETES FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO TAKE DRUGS.

2] WHAT IS AN ANABOLIC STEROID?

3] DESCRIBE SOME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TAKING ANABOLIC STEROIDS.

4] (a) WHAT MAJOR CHANGES HAVE OCCURRED IN RECENT YEARS IN THE TESTING OF ATHLETES FOR DRUGS?

(b) WHAT HAVE ATHLETES DONE TO MAKE DETECTION MORE DIFFICULT?

5] NAME ONE OTHER DRUG AND ITS REASON FOR USAGE.

6] DO YOU THINK IT GIVES PERFORMERS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IF THEY ARE USING DRUGS TO IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE?

7] WHAT DO YOU FEEL WOULD BE A SUITABLE PUNISHMENT FOR ATHLETES CAUGHT TAKING DRUGS?