doping

definition

A general definition of the term doping is not easy. The definition must be clear and must not leave any room for interpretation. The IOC's definition of doping therefore includes the term prohibited substance groups in order to automatically ban newly developed substances based on their substance group.

Doping is the general attempt to improve athletic performance using drugs. Doping refers to the use of prohibited groups of substances and the use of prohibited methods.

Word origin

The term doping developed in England in the mid-19th century. Colored South Africans used high-proof alcohol called "Dop" in cult activities, this term was subsequently adopted by the English.

history

The story of the doping is further back than most imagine. Sports performance has always been used for social status, prestige, fame, reputation and, last but not least, financial security, athletes repeatedly tend to take prohibited substances to improve personal performance. At the ancient Olympic Games, chewing cocaine leaves was used by the Incas to improve performance in Endurance sports used. Horse doping was first used in ancient Rome. Since the professionalization of sport, the cases of doping abuse have not stopped. In the 20th century doping became particularly popular in pure endurance-, and Weight training. In recent years, cycling has been the focus of doping tests. Although athletes and doctors often lack medical knowledge, doping is done without considering the health consequences. The first doping controls were carried out on the Olympic Games performed in Mexico.

introduction

When it comes to increasing or optimizing performance, athletes in commercialized sports tend to consume prohibited substances to improve athletic performance. The cost-benefit analysis hardly plays a role. It is always debated whether the use of prohibited substances in competitive sports will be copied in recreational sports or whether the negative headlines such as doping-related deaths are a deterrent. A study from 1999 in fitness studios in the Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein area showed that 24% of males Studio visitors and 8% of the female Studio visitors regularly receive medication to support them Muscle building take in. The number of unreported cases is probably significantly higher. Given the Germans' willingness to take drugs, however, these results are not particularly surprising.

Stimulants

Stimuli describe all active ingredients with an exciting and euphoric effect. The substances are used as stimulants and therefore enable long-lasting loads and are mainly used in endurance sports to maintain performance when fatigue is on the way.

  • Amphetamines
  • cocaine
  • caffeine
  • Ephedrine

Narcotics (intoxicants)

When exercising, pain occurs in the maximum area of ​​stress. These pains force the athlete to break off the sporting activity. The use of intoxicants suppresses this pain and thus enables higher performance. Intoxicants are used especially in sports with maximum stress. However, by suppressing pain, the athlete is exposed to particular dangers.

    • Opioids

    Anabolic agents

    Anabolic active ingredients promote the development of body tissue through protein synthesis. Bodybuilders use this effect to increase muscle mass. However, there is not only an increase in muscle mass, but also numerous side effects. The use of anabolic steroids is prohibited in any competitive sport. Due to massive side effects, every athlete is not advised to take anabolic steroids.

    • Anabolic androgenic steroids
    • Beta agonists

    Hormones, Mimetics, and Analogs

    The Epo, known from cycling, causes increased audio reading ability.

    These active ingredients include the Epo known from cycling. It causes an increased production of red blood cells and thus enables longer endurance exercise. However, with new methods it is possible to detect EPO fairly reliably. Growth hormones enable muscles to be built up, but taking hormones has significant side effects.

    • Growth hormones
    • Epo (Erythropoietin)

    Diuretics have a urinary effect.

    The diuretics are not directly an active ingredient from doping, but rather manipulate the urine sample. Diuretics cause an increased urge to urinate. This has a negative impact on the result of the sample delivered. However, maximum limits also apply to the intake of diuretics.

    • Diuretics

    Restricted groups of active ingredients

    • alcohol
    • Cannabinoids
    • Beta blockers
    • Corticosteroids
    • Local anesthetics

    Prohibited doping methods

    Blood doping is the best known forbidden method in doping. However, it has largely been replaced by EPO in recent years.
    • Blood doping
    • Pharmacological, chemical and physical manipulation

    Interesting example

    The Altitude training causes the hematocrit value of the blood to rise in a manner comparable to that of taking Erytropoietin. The latter counts to dopingbut not altitude training. This should give food for thought to the existing doping discussion.

    The justification of the doping ban

    The rationale behind the ban on the use of prohibited, performance-enhancing active ingredients is primarily based on the athletes' health. From an ethnic perspective, the focus is on equal opportunities and fairness.

    Both the use and the possession are considered a punishment. Specialists face the athlete with superior expertise and scientific authority that the athlete can generally be excluded from personal responsibility.

    Doping violates the basic sporting principles:

    • equal opportunity
    • Sports physiological reasons
    • Educational reasons

    Doctors are forbidden to give medication to healthy athletes, as side effects are to be expected. This is in the Ethnic Guidelines for Doctors in the sports medicine anchored. The drug treatment of sick athletes who are unable to compete is of course not valid for doping. However, it is not common sense for doctors to administer drugs to easily ill athletes that are considered banned substances. There are lists of permitted drugs that prevent the risk of unintentional doping sin.

    Dem doping can and will certainly be counteracted in the future, but as long as considerable sums of money are earned in and in high-performance sport, some athletes try all possible ways of increasing performance. Due to the promotion of young talent and the role model function of competitive athletes, it is a sustainable task to make sport as clean and humane as possible at all levels and in all areas.

    Risks of doping

    It is not uncommon for athletes to end their careers with positive doping tests

    The taking of doping is associated with a number of risks that an athlete will or may face. Professional athletes earn their living with athletic performance. If athletes are convicted of doping, they not only lose prestige, but also sponsorship contracts and prize money. The opportunities to earn money with sports are not possible during the period of suspension. In most cases, former doping offenders will not find decent sponsors in the future. Another risk is the long-term irreparable damage to the body from side effects. To increase performance, a higher dose is often used than when used appropriately. The competitive athlete accepts long-term physical damage after his career.

    Additional information

    • Sports medicine A-Z
    • endurance
    • Altitude training
    • Strength training
    • Anabolic steroids
    • Anabolic steroids
    • Doping in sport
    • Beta blockers
    • Blood doping
    • cocaine
    • caffeine
    • Ephedrine
    • narcotic
    • Opioids
    • Muscle building
    • Supplements
    • Food supplements
    • Drug test