Doping in sport: what every athlete should know
Doping is not just an elite-sport scandal we read about after a major competition. It also concerns recreational athletes who buy a supplement of unknown composition or take a medication before a competition without checking it.
The simple truth: a prohibited substance can ruin your health, your result and your reputation all at once. Below is a clear overview of what a doping substance is, which substances and methods are risky, and why the list of prohibited substances changes over time.
Doping and what it means in sport
Using tricks to boost athletic performance is almost as old as sport itself. It was once believed, for instance, that eating antelope meat builds speed and tiger meat gives greater muscle strength. Today that sounds strange, but the idea was the same: to find an edge that honest training alone doesn’t provide.
The term doping came into use in 1889. In English, the word dope meant a preparation, i.e. a narcotic substance, given to a trotting horse to influence its running speed and endurance. At that time mainly stimulants were used. They were given to athletes, but also to horses at trotting races and to dogs in races.
In the 20th century the concept of doping became much broader. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) puts it simply: doping is the use of the prohibited substances and methods included in the list of doping substances established by the IOC Medical Commission.
Athletes are prohibited from using doping substances and prohibited methods designated by the IOC or the international sports federations, and doctors, coaches and other persons are prohibited from prescribing them or forcing athletes to use them. In Estonia, doping control is carried out by the Estonian Anti-Doping Centre and by international organizations with the relevant authorization.
How does doping work in the body?
So what actually happens? Most prohibited substances don’t simply make an athlete “better”. They push the body to work harder than normal, mask fatigue, change metabolism or hide the use of another substance. The problem is that the body often pays a high price for it.
Stimulants
Stimulants raise central nervous system activity, increase motor activity, raise willingness to take risks and reduce fatigue. The best-known examples are amphetamine, caffeine, cocaine and ephedrine. Side effects can include higher blood pressure and body temperature, heart rhythm disorders, aggression, anxiety, loss of appetite and the development of dependence.
Amphetamine stimulates mainly the central nervous system. It can create a feeling of well-being and improve attention, concentration, competitive readiness and coordination. At the same time, blood pressure and heart rate may rise, and hallucinations and fear of death may occur. The danger is increased by heat, staying at high altitude, dehydration and injuries.
In medicine, ephedrine is used mainly to treat fever and colds. In treatment the health risk may not be large, but you need to be careful with dietary supplements. Ephedrine is sometimes labeled with the Chinese term Ma Huang.
Caffeine acts mainly on the brain, reduces fatigue and improves mental performance. In sport it can improve endurance at a moderate training load lasting at least 1 hour, by influencing fat metabolism and helping to preserve glycogen stores. Large doses can cause restlessness, muscle tremors, nervousness and stomach upset. The threshold given in the text is 12 micrograms per milliliter, or 5-6 cups of coffee within 1-2 hours.
Anabolic agents and hormones
Anabolic steroids are used to influence protein metabolism. Their effect shows up as growth in muscle mass and strength. Testosterone has both androgenic (masculinizing) and anabolic (building) effects.
- In men, acne, increased aggression, higher muscle tone, muscle cramps, changes in sex drive, testicular atrophy, impotence, kidney damage, heart muscle damage, growth disorders at a young age, mental disorders and lowered immunity may occur.
- In women, menstrual cycle disorders, changes in secondary sex characteristics, skin damage and acne, increased hair growth, a deeper voice, mood changes, aggression, damage to the heart, kidneys and liver, mental disorders, a masculine posture and behavior, and lowered immunity may occur.
Narcotic substances are used to relieve pain. In sport the risk is that pain can be a warning from the body. If it is suppressed, an athlete may carry on while an injury gets worse. Side effects that have been described include breathing problems, nausea, vomiting, reduced concentration, impaired balance and coordination, and the development of dependence.
Doping substances and prohibited methods
The list of prohibited substances is not set in stone. The pharmaceutical industry develops quickly, and the control system has to keep catching up. That is why classes and methods are used, and they are regularly updated. For the lists of the IOC Medical Commission and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the original material refers to the addresses www.olympic.org and www.wada-ama.org.
Diuretics speed up urine production and flush more fluid and mineral salts out of the body. In sport they are used to cut weight and to hide the presence of doping substances. Combined with a large fluid intake, they can dilute the urine, which makes prohibited substances harder to detect. Harmful side effects include dehydration, dizziness, muscle cramps, headache and nausea.
The prohibited groups also include peptide hormones, mimetics, analogs, substances with an anti-estrogenic effect and masking agents. What they have in common is that they can alter the body’s natural regulation or conceal the use of another prohibited substance.
Among the prohibited methods are enhancing oxygen transport and blood doping. Blood doping means giving an athlete blood, red blood cells, artificial oxygen carriers or similar blood products without a medical indication.
Another group is pharmacological, chemical and physical manipulation. This covers the use of substances and methods that alter, or attempt to alter, the integrity and validity of urine samples collected for doping control. Gene doping is the non-therapeutic use of genes, gene elements and/or cells to improve an athlete’s performance.
Doping: what can an athlete do?
Honestly, most of avoiding the risks comes down to fairly ordinary caution. Don’t take a product of unknown composition just because someone in the locker room praised it. Don’t assume that “natural” automatically means permitted or safe.
- Check medications before a competition, especially for colds, pain and allergy.
- Be careful with supplements whose composition is vague or whose claims are too big.
- Ask a doctor or a sports organization for advice if it isn’t clear whether a substance is permitted.
- Keep the packaging and ingredient information if you use a product regularly.
- Remember that the responsibility stays with the athlete even when someone else gave the recommendation.
Doping control is not just a punishment mechanism. Its purpose is to protect fair competition and the athlete’s health. When training, recovery and nutrition are in order, a prohibited shortcut isn’t really a shortcut. It is a risk that can end in a competition ban, damage to your health and a loss of trust.
FAQ
Does doping only mean steroids?
No. Steroids are just one group. Doping can involve stimulants, narcotics, diuretics, hormones, masking agents, blood doping, gene doping or tampering with samples.
Can an ordinary medication be a problem?
Yes, in some cases it can. It’s especially worth checking medications for colds, pain, allergy and the respiratory tract. If an athlete competes, they need to know what they are taking.
Where does the list of doping substances come from?
The list of prohibited substances and methods is approved by international sports organizations, including the IOC and WADA. It is updated regularly because new substances and methods keep appearing.
“Doping substances in sport” by Rein Jalak
Author: compiled by L. Kutsar based on the list of doping substances in sport
Source: WHO – physical activity.
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