Performance Enhancing Drugs

Performance Enhancing Drugs

 

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Introduction

From time immemorial whenever the human race has engaged in sports that are competitive, they have always tried to anything in their power to have an advantage over their competitor. It does not therefore come as a surprise that in the past few years, a number of athletes have been caught using performance enhancing substances or doping.  For this reason, the issue of doping has become a matter of public debate. It is worth mentioning from the onset that performance enhancing substances are drugs used for purposes of boosting the physical stamina or abilities of an individual. Athletes take these substances for various reasons such as to build strength and  mass of bones or muscles, to Increase oxygen delivery  to the  tissues that are exercising, to mask or dull  pain, to stimulate and relax the body, to hide use of other drugs, to reduce weight, to  boost their own confidence, or sometimes to cope with stress.  Notwithstanding the fact that the use of performance enhancing substance in sports has a long history, doping among athletes is perhaps one of the most talked about if not the most controversial issue in the modern world of sports.

The use of performance enhancing substances has become so rampant to the extent that when an athlete in a certain field is doing stunningly well, speculations on such an athlete using steroids arise. Surprisingly, such speculations in the world of sport today turn out to be true in most instances. The use of performance enhancing substances can be trace back to ancient Greece where they were referred to as performance elixirs and sometimes performance portions.  These portions were given to athletes in Greece for purposes of training for major games completion. The use of such substances continued among athletes until the advent of advanced technology in the twentieth century which was able to regularly examine athletes and to impose bans on the use of such substances.

The use of performance enhancing substances as well as steroids for whichever reason has numerous unsafe if not dangerous side effects. Such effects include increased hair growth, testicles shrinking in men, and lowering a persons’ voice. Other substances such as diuretics which are used to enhance weight loss may have some effects such as fainting spells as well as light-headedness. This study is aims at exploring the reasons underlying the rampant use of performance enhancing drugs by athletes.

Literature review     

            Study shows thatthe use of performance enhancing substances has become so rampant to the extent that when an athlete in a certain field is doing stunningly well, speculations on such an athlete using steroids arise (Schwenk & Costley, 2002). In a research conducted by Winterstein & Storrs, (2001) athletes may resort to use performance enhancing substances in order to build strength and mass of bones or muscles, to Increase oxygen delivery to the tissues that are exercising, to mask or dull pain, to stimulate and relax the body, to hide use of other drugs, to reduce weight, to boost their own confidence.

Feinberg, (2009) observes that aanabolic steroids are used by athletes for purposes of boosting their muscles strength. It has been contended that the use of these anabolic steroids which may be taken in form of pills or even as an injection, allows an athlete to train for longer and harder for a particular period of time(O’Dea, & Rawstone, 2001). Medical experts warn that there are a number of side effects associated with the use of this particular steroid which include but not limited to mood swings, liver damage and jaundice, aggression and depression (Graham et al. 2008). In men, anabolic steroid may cause breast development, baldness, and infertility. Female athletes who use such performance enhancing substance may suffer from infertility, and they may also grow excessive hair on the body and face. Others substances that may produces similar side effects include; Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) ( O’Dea, & Rawstone, 2001).

The athletes whose aim is to build body mass usually misuse the Human Growth Hormone. A recent research by Graham et al, (2008) there are indications that an excessive use of   Human Growth Hormone strengthens the bones of an individual by stimulating the growth of bones as well as trim down the fats in the body. Most athletes according to Mazanov & Huybers,  (2010) use Human Growth Hormone because this substance while used is very difficult to be noticed. The difficulty involved in the detection of this performance enhancing substance encourages more athletes to use it. The side effects of Human Growth Hormone include among others heart problems, internal organs that are enlarged, particularly the tongue, heart, liver, and kidneys and acromegaly (which is a condition that involves overgrowth of face hands, and feet(O’Dea, & Rawstone, 2001).

In addition to taking performance enhancement substances for purposes increasing strength and building mass, other athletes uses these substances to increase the amount of oxygen delivery in their body tissues (Kirby, Moran & Guerin, 2011). The use of substances such as Erythropoietin (EPO) can increase the delivery of oxygen in the tissues of an athlete up to 10% thus increasing their endurance. Medical experts state that the use of Erythropoietin (EPO) by athletes can be extremely dangerous if not suicidal. This substance increases the density of red blood cells thus causing the blood to thicken. The thick blood is less viscous and therefore cannot be able to circulate well through the blood circulation system, in addition, the heart must work extra harder in an effort to pump the blood due to its thickness. In such a situation the athlete is at a risk of suffering a stroke even a heart failure.

According to Kersotis, (2003) other than building muscles and strengthening bones, athletes use performance enhancing substances such as anabolic steroids to help them recover more quickly particularly from a strenuous workout. These steroids mitigate the damage that occurs on muscles during the training period. Consequently an athlete is able to train harder and for longer without overstraining their bodies. Powers, (2001) note that some other athletes may use performance enhancing substances simply because of the aggressive feeling that an individual once they use such substance. In a study conducted recently, some athletes  decide to use performance enhancement drugs due to the availability of such substances that cannot be detected by using the current tests that are used to scan athletes such substances include designer steroids. These steroids are specially made for athletes even though they have not yet got any approved medical application.

Methodology

Research framework.

The design of the research outlines the reason as to why the research is conducted and the people involved in the research study. The research uses questionnaires and observation as a method of data collection. The study therefore uses qualitative research method in an effort to get an in-depth exploration of factors that affect the behaviors of human beings as well as create and understanding of common trends of opinion and thoughts in a particular issue.

The use of questionnaires in the research plays a significant role in evaluating the reasons behind athletes using performance enhancement substances. In addition, the questionnaires are vital in establishing the effects and possible consequences.

The questions that were developed in the questionnaire were relevant to the research topic and aimed at establishing the reasons as to why athletes uses performance enhancement substance, and the possible effects of using such drugs. The questionnaire had ten questions which were used to examine the prevalent of performance enhancing drugs and the general perception of such drugs. The questionnaires were answered by athletes from a local gym and the total numbers of participants in the study were 50 individuals.

Target population

The target population that the research intends to use involves athletes from a local gym. Some of the athletes from the gym did not use performance enhancement drugs as their main purpose was to work out for their general body fitness. Nonetheless, some of the participants who wanted to look like body builders used performance enhancement drugs to boost their strengths as well as develop muscles. It is worth noting that those athletes who admitted to using this drugs stated that the most commonly used were human growth hormone as well as anabolic androgenic steroids. Most of the elite athletes from the gym distanced themselves from the use of such substances. Most of them indicated that the reason as to why they do not use these substances was that they underwent frequent tests particularly from their respective sporting discipline. They were therefore cautious not to be caught and jeopardize their careers in addition to the health risks associated with such drugs.

Discussion

            It remains uncertain as to whether or not those who believe that performance enhancing substance tests are easy to circumvent might be contented with the renewed efforts of testing. Nonetheless, it is a non-refutable fact that the careers of a good number of elite athletes have been greatly affected by the performance enhancing drug tests (O’Dea, & Rawstone, 2001). At the Olympic level for instance, once an athlete is tested and confirmed positive of using performance enhancing drug, he or she is stripped of all the records that such an individual held as well as all the medals he/she has ever won. In addition, such an athlete who is a first offender is banned for two good years from participating in any form of competition. An example of such an athlete who was stripped all his medals and banned from ever participating on any competition involving track and field events was Ben Johnson a Canadian sprinter back in 1988.

Since time immemorial, the use of drugs by athletes to enhance their performance has been part of the competition in athletic. This has always been driven by the desire of athletes to have an upper hand over their adversaries during competitions, notwithstanding the detection efforts put in place. In a revelation of sports history review, sports and performance enhancement substances have a long history together (Powers, 2001). Even though the use of these drugs was tolerated in earlier years, several factors led to the shift of that tolerance to testing and banning their use. One notable factor is perhaps the advancement in technology of creating these drugs particularly in the 1950s. Another factor may have been the concern that the athletes who used such performance enhancement drugs would have an unfair advantage over those who did not use such drugs during athletic competitions. The shift might have also been motivated by the fact that there was need to prevent and protect athletes from consuming substances that are illicit and harmful to their health (Winterstein, & Storrs (2001).

The opponents of performance enhancing substance maintain that the athlete who uses such substances is a cheat and a disgrace to true sportsmanship. They maintain that in the behavior remains unchecked, then, sporting activities ceases to be sports but rather a science laboratory (Smith & Dahn, 2000). The only thing that can retain the integrity of sports and athletes for that matter is drug testing. The athletes who support the use of performance enhancing drugs maintain that there is no cheating or any form of unfair advantage when they use such drugs. They contend that by using such drugs, one has a better chance of getting better training as well as coaching facilities which they otherwise may not have access for purposes of strengthening their competitive advantage. Others argue that due to the high competition levels during elite sporting events, the use of these drugs may be necessary.

In their research Schwenk & Costley, (2002) found out that the readiness to use performance enhancing substances among athletes may be explained by the great need of athletes to remain competitive and relevant in their respective sports. Due to the advancement in technology sportsmen and women have achieved millions of fun all over the world as they can be watch while they are performing their sporting activities through many mediums. In an effort to retain those funs and their esteem, many athletes are more than willing to do anything that it takes including the use of performance enhancing substances.

Conclusion

Notwithstanding the fact that using performance enhancement substance is prohibited among athletes, they are at times inclined or willing to use them anyway for various reasons such as to build strength and mass of bones or muscles, to Increase oxygen delivery to the tissues that are exercising, to mask or dull pain, to stimulate and relax the body, to hide use of other drugs, to reduce weight, to boost their own confidence, or sometimes to cope with stress.  These performance enhancing substances also mitigate the damage that occurs on muscles during the training period. Thus, an athlete is able to train harder and for longer without overstraining their bodies. Therefore, apart from building muscles and strengthening bones, athletes use performance enhancing substances such as anabolic steroids to help them recover more quickly particularly from a strenuous workout (Kersotis, 2003). Some athletes may use performance enhancing substances simply because of the aggressive feeling that an individual once they use such substance.

Athletes use substances such as Anabolic steroids for purposes of boosting their muscles strength. Other substances that may be used for enhancing muscles strength are Luteinizing Hormone and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. Other athletes use these substances to increase the amount of oxygen delivery in their body tissues. The use of substances such as Erythropoietin can increase the delivery of oxygen in the tissues of an athlete up to ten percent thus increasing their endurance (Graham et al, 2008). There are a number of side effects that culminate from the use of performance enhancement substances which include among others; increased hair growth, testicles shrinking in men, and lowering a persons’ voice. Other substances such as diuretics which are used to enhance weight loss may have some effects such as fainting spells as well as light-headedness. Other side effects may include; mood swings, liver damage and jaundice, aggression and depression. In men, anabolic steroid may cause breast development, baldness, and infertility. Female athletes who use such performance enhancing substance may suffer from infertility, and they may also grow excessive hair on the body and face.

The use of performance enhancement substances was tolerated in earlier years, however, several factors led to the shift of that tolerance to testing and banning their use. One notable factor is perhaps the advancement in technology of creating these drugs particularly in the 1950s. Another factor may have been the concern that the athletes who used such performance enhancement drugs would have an unfair advantage over those who did not use such drugs during athletic competitions. The shift might have also been motivated by the fact that there was need to prevent and protect athletes from consuming substances that are illicit and harmful to their health ((Powers, 2001).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Feinberg, J. M. (2009). College Students’ Perceptions of Athletes Who Cheat: The Role of Performance and History. Journal Of Sport Behavior, 32(4), 460-475

Graham, M. R., Davies, B., Grace, F. M., Kicman, A., & Baker, J. S. (2008).Anabolic Steroid       Use.Sports Medicine, 38(6), 505-525.

Kersotis, P. (2003). Baseball’s laughable drug testing no longer funny. Florida today, Retrieved

September 15, 2003, from http://www.cincinnatti.com/MLBdrugtesting.

Kirby, K., Moran, A., & Guerin, S. (2011). A qualitative analysis of the experiences of elite athletes who have admitted to doping for performance enhancement. International Journal Of Sport Policy, 3(2), 205-224.

Mazanov, J., & Huybers, T. (2010). An empirical model of athlete decisions to use performance-enhancing drugs: qualitative evidence. Qualitative Research In Sport & Exercise, 2(3), 385-402.

O’Dea, J., & Rawstone, P. (2001). Male adolescents identify their weight gain practices and

reasons for desired weight gain and sources of weight gain information. Journal of            American Dietetics Association, 101,105-108.

Powers, M.(2001). Ephedra and its application to sport performance; another concern for the

athletic trainer. Journal of Athletic Training Association, 36, 420-424.

 

Schwenk,T.L., & Costley,C.D. (2002). When food becomes a drug: nonanabolic nutritional

supplement use in athletes. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 30, 907-917.

 

Smith, J., & Dahn, D.C. (2000). Creatine use among a select population of high school athletes.

            Mayo Clinical Proceedings, 75, 1257-1274.

Winterstein, A.P., & Storrs, C.M. (2001). Herbal supplements: considerations for the         athletictrainer. Journal of Athletic Training Association, 36, 435-432.

 

 

 

 

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