Doping agents are substances taken by athletes to increase the body's ability to exercise and improve physical performance. Although the use of most of them is severely punished, the number of players caught using pharmacological doping is growing year by year. See what types of performance enhancers are and how they work.

Doping agentsare biologically active chemical compounds which artificially, non-physiologically increase the body's ability to exercise. They are the most popular form of doping due to their ease of use and low costs (as opposed to physiological and genetic doping, which requires much more work and resources). At the same time, the use of artificial doping agents carries a high risk of "slip-ups" during doping control and has an impact on mental and physical he alth. Athletes who use substances of this type for a long time, after many years often suffer from diseases caused by their negative impact on the body.

It is worth noting that not all measures increasing the body's efficiency are illegal. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), established under the chairmanship of the International Olympic Committee, decides whether a given substance is prohibited. This institution publishes a list of prohibited measures every year.

Sometimes some receive legal status, even though they were previously listed as banned (this was the case, for example, with caffeine, which until 2004 could be consumed in strictly limited doses, but today without restrictions) . Some substances are only banned in certain sports - for example, alcohol is considered doping only in air, motor, car and archery sports.

Read the article to find out what are the most popular doping agents and how they work.

Doping agents - anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are a group of chemicals that accelerate the division of cells that make up muscle tissue. After taking anabolic steroids, the muscular system works more effectively, its mass, strength and endurance increase, moreover, the number of red blood cells and the rate of bone growth increase. Listed effectsthe effects of steroids translate into the overall improvement of the athlete's physical fitness, and also have a positive effect on the appearance of the figure, giving it a more muscular appearance. For this reason, anabolics are especially often used in bodybuilding.

It should be remembered that anabolic steroids are one of the most dangerous doping agents due to the number of side effects they cause. The use of steroids may, inter alia, disrupt the hormonal balance causing a decrease in sex drive in men, increased body hair in women, acne, gynecomastia or acceleration of aging processes.

The most popular anabolics used in sport are: testosterone, deca durabolin, dianabol, nandrolone, methandienone, oxymetholone, androstedione, stanozolol.

Doping agents - hormones

Hormones with doping properties are usually taken by athletes in the form of drugs. These drugs used for medical purposes support the treatment of certain diseases, e.g. anemia, while in higher doses they regulate the key functions of the body for athletes: they stimulate the growth of muscle and bone tissue, improve respiratory efficiency, and increase resistance to pain and fatigue.

Among the doping hormones the most commonly used are:

  • hormones that stimulate the production of red blood cells- increase the production of red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to other body tissues, including muscles. Better oxygenated muscles work more efficiently and tire less. The most popular hormone of this type is EPO, or erythropoietin. This substance is used in the treatment of kidney failure, anemia and cancer. Erythropoietin became famous in 2005, when the results of anti-doping tests carried out on cyclist Lance Armstrong were revealed. Ultimately, the American was stripped of all seven Tour de France wins, a bronze medal from the Sydney Olympics, and disqualified from professional cycling for life.
  • growth hormone (GH)- this is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It affects weight gain and bone growth. Synthetic GH used by athletes increases muscle mass, reduces body fat, improves regenerative abilities, reduces the risk of injury and raises blood sugar levels.
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)- this hormone performs a steroid-like function, stimulating testosterone production and enhancing anabolic processes. Gonadotropin occurs naturally in women in the early stages of pregnancy, while in men its use reduces itnegative effects of taking anabolic steroids.

The use of hormones, like all doping agents, has side effects. Overuse of EPO increases blood viscosity and the susceptibility to blood clots, which increases the risk of diseases such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, coronary or cerebral thrombosis. The side effect of using growth hormone in athletes is hypoglycaemia and acromegaly, i.e. an overgrowth of internal organs. In turn, the use of HCG by men may lead to gynecomastia, hypertension, excessive sex drive, and mood swings.

Doping agents - drugs

Pharmacological agents intended for the treatment of various diseases, e.g. asthma, in appropriate doses may have a beneficial effect on the body functions important from the point of view of athletes. The following groups of drugs are most often used for doping purposes:

  • beta2-mimetics- drugs that stimulate beta-receptors located in the walls of the airways. They are used to treat bronchial asthma and chronic lung disease. Beta2-mimetics used by athletes increase respiratory efficiency, and thus, allow to extend the duration of exercise and delay fatigue. In addition, some beta2-mimetics, e.g. clenbuterol, salbutamol, in increased doses have anabolic effects. Side effects associated with the use of these drugs include: increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, muscle tremors, headaches, irritation of the throat and upper respiratory tract.
  • hormone antagonists- drugs that stimulate or inhibit the work of receptors responsible for the secretion of hormones. For doping purposes, the following applies:
    • aromatase inhibitors- substances that inhibit the aromatization process, i.e. the transformation of the male sex hormone - testosterone, into the female hormone - estrogen. The WADA list includes, among others the following aromatase inhibitors: anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane, formestane, aminoglutethimide.
    • selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM)- substances used in the treatment of breast cancer in women. In men, they are used mainly due to the anti-estrogenic effect, i.e. preventing the excessive production of estrogen resulting from the use of anabolics. The prohibited SERMs include raloxifene, tamoxifen, and toremifene.
  • metabolism modulators- substances that influence metabolic processes in the body. One of the most popular is insulin, which plays an essential role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and is used inthe treatment of diabetes. In athletes, insulin increases the rate of glucose penetration into the muscles, which translates into increased strength and muscle mass, and also accelerates regeneration after training. Another metabolic modulator that was on the WADA list in January 2016 is meldonium - a drug used to treat heart disease. Scientists have found that in he althy people it has a positive effect on performance and accelerates recovery after training. Its use admitted, inter alia, tennis player Maria Szarapowa. In just 3 months from the time Meldonium was placed on the WADA list, as many as 99 athletes were caught using it.

Doping agents - stimulants

Stimulants are another group of doping agents banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. They do not cause a direct increase in physical efficiency, but stimulate the body to increased activity. They work by stimulating the central nervous system, resulting in an increase in heart rate, faster breathing and improved brain function. The athlete using the stimulants is more alert, resistant to fatigue, and at the same time aggressive and ready for immediate action.

Stimulants were the earliest used performance enhancers in professional sport. As early as 1904, during the Summer Olympics, the American Thomas Hicks won the marathon by drinking brandy mixed with strychnine before the competition. The mixture acted as a stimulant for the athlete. Benzedrine, which was in fact the trade name for amphetamines, was used from the 1930s until the 1960s.

Stimulants include ephedrine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, caffeine, alcohol. Their use carries the risk of addiction. Long-term use of stimulants may result in heart problems, the development of psychosis, hallucinations, and insomnia.

Category:

Other