Drug Abuse in Sports
History
Started with Greek Athletes
– Plants
In 1800’s uses included Cocoa Plant,
Heroine and Cocaine
1900’s: Alcohol, Strychnine,
Testosterone, Anabolic Steroids,
Dianabol, steroid races, Human
Growth Hormone
Testing for athletes
Ancient Times
Ancient Olympians drank wine and
experimented with herbs to enhance
performance
Ancient Roman Gladiators took
hallucinogens and stimulants to fight
fatigue and injury.
They even feed their horses substances
like hydromel (alcoholic beverage made
from honey) to make them run faster.
Modern Use
In the late 19th century
athletes
began to use the coca leaf.
They would make a mixture
called Vin Mariani,
which was a mixture of coca leaf extract
and wine.
Coca and cocaine were used because they
reduced the sense of fatigue and hunger
brought on by prolonged
1860-1880: “Speed Balls” Heroine-Cocaine
used to increase endurance
– Swimming and Cyclists
1886 first reported drug related death
in sports- Cyclist
1900’s
"In 1904 Olympics marathon runner,
Thomas Hicks, was using a mixture of
brandy and strychnine [a stimulant that is
fatal in high doses] and nearly died.
Mixtures of strychnine, heroin, cocaine,
and caffeine were used widely by athletes
and each coach or team developed its own
unique secret formulae. This was common
practice until heroin and cocaine became
available only by prescription in the
1920s."
Testosterone Era
1927-1954
Testosterone extracted from Bulls
– Dramatic increase in aggressive behavior
Germany tests
– Given to elite troops
1945- Soviet govt seizes German scientific and
technological advances
1952 Olympic games & 1954 World
Championships
– Soviet weight lifting dominated
Anabolic Steroids
A group of synthetic hormones that
promote the storage of protein and
the growth of tissue
Muscle building without aggression
Dr. Ziegler has big impact on this era
– He 1st tested testosterone (which is an
AS) on himself
– Helped to develop Dianabol (the world’s
2nd AS)
1958
Dianabol, the first anabolic
steroid to gain FDA approval
is released by Ciba
Pharmaceuticals.
Dianabol was created to maximize the
strength-building characteristics of
testosterone while minimizing negative
side effects.
Close to his death in 1983, Dr. Zieglar
speaks out against his invention and says
he wishes he had never created the
anabolic steroid after seeing athletes
abuse the drug.
1964 and 1968 Olympics
30% of U.S. team on Steroids
During Cold war era
Who’s steroids are stronger, theirs or
ours
Deaths from drug overdose is on rise
Early Deaths
British cyclist Tommy Simpson, dies during
the 13th stage of the Tour de France on
July 13, 1967. The cyclist, whose motto
was allegedly "if it takes ten to kill you,
take nine and win," consumes excess
amounts of amphetamines and brandy to
combat the effects of an illness and he
continues to ride until his body shuts down.
Simpson's death creates pressure
for sporting agencies to take action
against doping.
1967
Partly in reaction to Tommy
Simpson's death, the International
Olympic Committee (IOC)
establishes the Medical Commission
to fight against doping in sports. The
Commission is given three guiding
principles: protection of the health of
athletes, respect for medical and
sport ethics, and equality for all
competing athletes.
1968
"The IOC instituted its first compulsory
doping controls at the Winter Olympic
Games in Grenoble, France in 1968 and
again at the Summer Olympic Games in
Mexico City in the same year.
Banned substances included narcotic
analgesics and stimulants.
Although it was suspected that androgenic
anabolic steroids were being used at this
time, there was no reliable way to test for
them, therefore they were not included on
the list of banned substances.
1970’s
Steroid use gaining national attention
– 1969 Sports Illustrated publishes article on use of
steroids in Pro and College sports
1972- 68% of U.S. Olympic T & F athletes
used AS
1976- Montreal Games- Drug testing is
mandatory, penalty = disqualification
– This led to athletes turning back to testosterone
to beat the tests
1982- Testosterone banned
1980’s to Present
HGH- Human Growth Hormone
–
–
–
–
–
70’s acquired from monkeys
Very expensive
Produced in human pituitary gland
Extracted from cadavers
Soon companies made synthetic version
1990’s
– Black market
– Gym deals, athletes providing and even
worse…
Coaches providing!
Currently
In 2008, there were 192 banned
performance enhancing drugs and
methods included in the WADA code
(World Anti-Doping Agency)
There have been 21, 849 summer
Olympians tested with 105 doping
cases reported.
There have 5,264 winter Olympians
tested with 13 doping cases
reported.
Other Drugs?
Amphetamines
Cocaine
Caffeine
– Before 2003, over 18 ounces of coffee
was prohibited.
– Caffeine and pseudophedrine were
removed from the list of banned
substances in 2003.
Widespread use of Sudafed in NHL?
– http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/
1998/weekly/980202/nhlstory.html
Pro-Drug Use
Allow use because they are “part of modern
sport.”
“Drugs are no more artificial than the entourage
of aides and physical equipment commonplace in
contemporary sport.”
—Dr. Ellis Cashmore, Staffordshire University in England
Argument that current antidrug policies are
fraught with hypocrisy. Sport leagues stand to
gain from bigger, stronger players and more
exciting contests.
Steroids and Baseball
Jose Canseco
Steroids and Baseball
Barry Bonds
Thoughts?
MLB just recently approved
mandatory steroid testing in athletes
– What will be the impact of this policy
Pro-steroid literature argues that
anabolic usage should be accepted
and regulated, since athletes
use/take them anyway
– Agree or disagree
Steroid Debate
debate or paper on drug use.docx
Side Effects of Testosterone
Testosterone abuse in males
– Liver disease/possible cancer
– Aggression
– Acne
– Swelling of breasts
– High cholesterol
– Ongoing erection which can lead to
Damage to the penis and bone pain in pelvis
area
Side Effects of Testosterone
Testosterone abuse in females
– Cessation of periods
– Develop male characteristics
Facial hair
Deep voice
Side Effects of Anabolic
Steroids
http://www.roidreport.com/steroids/
side-effects-of-anabolic-steroids
Side Effects of HGH
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hum
an-growth-hormone-hgh-sideeffects.html