Performance enhancement: Nutrition, diet and other considerations

Performance enhancing substances

Ergogenic aids are practices or substances – legal or illegal – that improve performance

Because of the huge desire (both intrinsic and extrinsic) to win, there is a huge amount of research into improving performance and recovery

Performance enhancing substances

Pre -1960’s, it was common for athletes to use illegal performance-enhancing drugs (because there was no drug testing)

Coaches, athletes and administrators ignored the potential side effects and ethical considerations.

Performance enhancing substances

The IOC became actively involved in anti-doping initiatives when Tommy Simpson died during the 1967 Tour De France

The medical Commission of the IOC was established in 1967 A list of banned

substances was developed

This list includes -

Illegal substances list

beta-blockers, stimulants, narcotics (pain blockers), diuretics, anabolic agents (protein (muscle) building substances), peptide hormones, blood doping,

Anabolic agents Also known as

Anabolic androgenic steroids

Such as: Testosterone

Performance benefits: Increased lean

muscle mass and strength

Reduced fatigue Increased rate of

recovery Increased

aggression

Anabolic agents – Side effects

Male Possible infertility Increased libido Testicular atrophy Baldness Development of breast tissue

Female Menstrual problems Body/facial hair Enlarged clitoris Deeper voice

Both:

- Liver damage, diabetes, heart problems, mood swings, acne and more

Anti-oestrogenic agents

Usually used legitimately for hormone replacement therapy (treatment for breast cancers)

Illegally used to counteract undesireable side-effects associated with anabolic steroid use – such as the development of breast tissue.

Side effects:- Hot flushes- Gastrointestinal disorders- Fluid retention- Venous thrombosis

Hormones and related substances

EPO (Erythopoietin) Benefits

Increases RBC production, thus increasing O2 carrying capacity

Side effects Blood thickening Blood clots Increased risk of heart

attack/stroke Dehydration

EPO is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the body, therefore when someone is injecting, its use can be difficult to detect.

Hormones and related substances

hGH (human growth hormone)

Benefits Increases muscle size

and strength

Side-effects Acromegaly (disease of

the pituitary gland) Thickened skin Increased BP Hairiness Cardiac disease

Like EPO, hGH is produced naturally via the pituitary gland – and like EPO, it can be difficult to detect synthetic use

Diuretics and masking agents

Medication to treat liver and kidney diseases

Benefits Increased

production of urine to assist in making weight restrictions

Presence of other drugs masked by diluting their urine samples

Side effects:- Dehydration- Kidney and heart failure- Headaches- Light-headedness

Stimulants Types: Amphetamines,

cocaine, ephidrine Benefits

CNS directly effected (speeds up movements/reactions)

Increased alertness, reduced tiredness and increased competitiveness and agression

Prohibited in competition

Side effects:- Heat regulation problems, increased breathing rate, aggressive behaviour, dehydration, weight loss, increased HR, heart palpitations, increased BP, insomnia, dependence, depression

Narcotic analegsics EG: Heroin, morphine,

pethadine Benefits

Reduced pain from injury Ability to perform when

injured

Side effects Increased risk of further

injury Balance/coordination Reduced concentration Lethargy Dependence/addiction

Narcotics and prohibited in competition

Cannabinoids Types: Hashish,

marijuana Benefits

None

Side effects Impairment Loss of coordination

and concentration Increased heart rate Drowsiness Hallucinations

Reduced ability to perform complex tasks

Continued use: Loss of motivation

Learning difficulties

Respiratory diseases

Dependence/addiction

Glucocortico-steroids Power anti-inflammation

medication Benefits

Used to treat arthritis, asthma, inflamed joints etc

Side effects Fluid retention Mood alteration Musculo-skeletal

problems (such as osteoporosis)

Illegal in competition

Beta-blockers Types: Acebutlolo,

Esmolol Benefits

Reduce body tremor

Stop hands shaking Used in sports

where a steady hand is required

Side effects Lowered BP Decreased HR Tiredness Decreased

performance capacity in endurance sports

Beta-blockers

Prohibited in the following sports: Archery Billiards Bobsleigh Gymnastics Modern pentathlon Ski Jumping Shooting Wrestling

Blood Doping Involves infusing

extra human blood (pre harvested) prior to an event to increase aerobic performance

Can be the athletes or someone else's blood

Benefits Increased RBC

count, thus improved O2 devivery

Side effects:- Thickening of the blood (increased viscosity) - Blood clots- Increased risk of heart attack/stroke- Dehydration

Illegal Performance enhancers

Many athletes still try to take an illegal advantage by resorting to illegal strategies

The reason athletes choose to take these illegal methods are to enhance training and recovery

Some other reasons could include:

Reasons for illegal performance enhancement

Personal Reasons (intrinsic)

Ongoing dissatisfaction with their own performance

Lack of progress Psychological dependence A win-at-all costs mentality A belief they can get away

with it

Environmental Reasons (Extrinsic)

Friend/peers using and achieving results

Pressure from a coach/country to win

Financial rewards for winning

Fame

Considerations

Coaches/trainers could be carful when providing different substances (illegal and legal)

Litigation is likely Athletes should weigh up the benefits and

cost of using these enhancers These medico-legal issues need to be

considered

What happens when you’re caught?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhNjPDg9X5E