Doping

Earlier times athletes tries to increase their sports performance by taking mushrooms and opium.

Runners used to drink a herbal beverage to increase their strength and become capable to run long distance races.

Concept of doping

Doping is the word used in the field of sports,to refer to the situation when athletes use prohibited substances or methods to unfairly improve their sporting performance.

World Anti- Doping Agency(WADA)"Doping is defined as the occurance of one or more of the anti- doping rule violations set forth in article2.1 through article2.8 of the code."

Breaking other anti-doping rules is also condidered doping.

1.Presence of a prohibited substance or method.

2.Use or attempt to use a prohibited substance or method.

3.....

Classification of Doping

Doping can be classified into the following two types.

A.Performance enhancing substances

B.Physical methods

Performance Enhanding Substances

1.Stimulants:

*drugs that enhances alertness and physical activity by increasing heart and breathing rates and the functions of the brain.

*They improve the reaction time and reduce the feeling of fatigue.

*Amphetamines,cocaine,ephedrine and adrafinil are commonly used stimulants by atheletes.

2.Anabolic Steroids:

Anabolic steroids stimulate the growth of muscles and help athletes to train harder and recover rapidly.

*By increasing the muscle size and strength,they enhances the performance in sports.

*Drostanolone,metenolone,and oxandrolone.

Peptide Hormones:

*Peptide hormones are substances that are produced by glands.

These substances circulate in the blood.

*These substances circulate in the blood.

**These can improve the growth of muscles,change the balance of other hormones and increase the production of red blood cells,thus increase the ability to carry more oxygen.

*erthropoietin ,human growth hormones,insulin.etc

Beta - 2 - Agonists:

*Generally used to treat asthma.(found in asthma inhalers)

These drugs relax the muscles that surround the airway and opening of the air passages.(athletes - increase respiratory function).

Narcotics:

*Narcotics are used to reduce or eliminate pain from injuries.

*morphin,heroin,pethidine,etc.,

*reduse anxiety

Diuretics:

*to remove fluids from the body,particularly water.(taken to reduse weight rapidly.)

*drugs are also taken to evade anti - doping tests as these remove the traces of other doping substances from the body.

*diuretics ,dextran,diuretics,etc.

Glucocorticosteroids:

*These drugs relieve fatigue and pain.

*These enhances tolerance for pain and prepare the athletes to continue the efforts.

Cannabinoids:

*used for relaxation.

*cannabinoids,hashish,marijuana.

Physical Methods

*blood doping

*chemical

*gene doping

Blood doping-

(WADA)the misuse of techniques or substances to increase one's red blood cell count.

two unit of athelet blood is taken some weeks prior to competition.

**Autologous blood doping - same athlete blood.

**Homologous blood doping - blood from second person.

Use of artificial oxygen carriers  is also a second method of blood doaping which involves the use of artificial oxygen carriers.

Haemoglobin oxygen carriers are chemicals or purified proteins which have the ability to carry oxygen.

These are helpful in enhancing aerobic capacity.

Gene Doping -

Gene  doping is the manipulation of cells or genes to enhance the body'sports performance.

Gene doping is based on the principles of gene therapy.

The process of gene doping is likely to be used by atheletes in future in an attempt to enhance the function of normal healthy cells.