The Functioning Mechanisms of Performance-Boosting Substances
In the world of sports, the pursuit of excellence has led to an expansion in the use and options of performance-enhancing drugs. This evolution, primarily driven by scientific progress, commercial sports pressures, and globalization, began in the 1960s.
Back then, the use of drugs like Benzedrine for stimulation was prevalent. However, the landscape changed dramatically with the creation of new drugs such as anabolic steroids and recombinant EPO (erythropoietin) in the 1980s. These substances offered athletes more effective means to enhance strength, stamina, and oxygen-carrying capacity, often undetectable by testing [1][2][3].
The growing spectacle of sports through electronic media raised stakes for athletes and teams to perform at higher levels, fueling a demand for performance-enhancing substances. This, coupled with the globalization of sport and competition, increased pressure on athletes to find legal or illicit methods to enhance performance [2].
Early drug use was often unregulated or inadequately tested, allowing athletes and teams to use substances like Benzedrine during championship seasons without apparent consequences [1]. Later, drugs like EPO were initially undetectable, making control harder and encouraging abuse [3].
Over time, different classes of drugs for various performance aspects—such as anabolic steroids for muscle growth, stimulants for alertness, and blood doping agents for endurance—became available, broadening the doping “menu” for athletes [4][5].
Today, drug testing is an integral part of sports competitions. As new performance-enhancing drugs are developed, new tests are developed to detect these drugs. The struggle to keep sports clean continues indefinitely.
For instance, the International Cycling Union introduced a blood passport practice in 2008 to monitor the characteristics of an athlete's blood over a period of time to detect doping. Immuno-assays can also be used to detect substances like HCG, LH, and ACTH in urine samples [6].
However, the extent of doping in sports remains unclear. While statistical evidence is limited, athletes and coaches stress that most competitors do not take drugs [7].
Some commonly used substances include narcotics like morphine, methadone, Vicodin, Percocet, and heroin, which are highly addictive and impair mental abilities, increasing the risk of further injury [8]. Stimulants, such as caffeine, amphetamines, and cocaine, are used to help athletes stay alert, reduce fatigue, and maintain aggressiveness but can cause side effects such as nervousness, shaking, irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, convulsions, and even sudden death [9].
Other substances, such as beta-blockers, are prescribed to treat high blood pressure but may be used by athletes requiring steady hands in competition. However, they can cause side effects such as lower than normal blood pressure (hypotension), slow heart rate, and fatigue [10].
Secretion inhibitors can be used to manipulate the results of urine drug tests, while plasma expanders are substances that athletes can use to dilute the concentration of banned substances in their blood [11].
Alcohol, cannabinoids, local anesthetics, and epitestosterone are other substances that have been used in sports, each with its own set of potential side effects and risks [12-16].
In conclusion, the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports has evolved significantly since the 1960s. As science advances, so does the development of new drugs, posing constant challenges for sports regulation. The struggle to keep sports clean and fair continues, with ongoing efforts to develop new tests and regulations to combat this issue.
- The expansion in the use and options of performance-enhancing drugs in the realm of sports, as seen in the 1960s, chiefly stemmed from scientific progress, commercial sports pressures, and globalization.
- The availability of substances like anabolic steroids and recombinant EPO, which emerged in the 1980s, provided athletes with more effective and often undetectable means to boost their strength, stamina, and oxygen-carrying capacity.
- Today, various classes of performance-enhancing drugs are in use for different aspects of sports performance, such as anabolic steroids for muscle growth and stimulants for alertness, and the fight against doping continues with the development of new tests and regulations.
