PERFORMANCE
ENHANCEMENT
OTHER PERFORMANCE
ENHANCEMENT AIDS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
STARTER
ALCOHOL
• Alcohol has no real benefits to sport
performance, although it does act as a
carbohydrate (CHO) source of energy
• It does also provide a temporary psychological
effect of calming, anxiety reduction and
confidence building
• In the long-term alcohol is primarily a depressant
and research shows that alcohol deceases both
motor skill and physiological performance
SUMMARY OF ALCOHOL
POSITIVE EFFECTS
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
None. Although can Impairs psychomotor
make athlete feel performance. Speeds
more relaxed and up dehydration.
confident.
USERS
None
LEGAL
STATUS
Legal
(over
18’s)
CAFFEINE
• Caffeine can be found in tea, coffee, cocoa, most soft
drinks, many foods and in some medications
• Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) and
acts like a weak amphetamine (stimulant) which increases
alertness, concentration and reaction time
• It produces increased breakdown of FFA’s, increases energy
levels and lowers perception of effort
• Some athletes take in caffeine prior to exercise to increase
the breakdown of FFA’s to save their important glycogen
stores
• Caffeine is not banned, however, the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) have a limit beyond which performers
should not consume (around 7-8 strong cups of coffee)
• Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, increasing urine production
and can increase dehydration and therefore heat regulation
SUMMARY OF CAFFEINE
POSITIVE EFFECTS
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
USERS
LEGAL
STATUS
Can help improve
mental alertness,
concentration and
reaction time. Reduce
the feeling of fatigue,
which allows athletes
to exercise at higher
intensities for longer.
Increase the ability to
utilise fats as a fuel
and increase aerobic
capacity.
Increase the sensation of
nervousness, anxiety
and restlessness.
Disturbed sleep. Risk of
dehydration. It is
addictive.
Endurance
athletes (for
increase of
fat
metabolism)
Legal
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
• These are synthetically copies of the naturally
produced hormone testosterone, which promotes
bone maturation and development of muscle mass
• They are thought to help repair muscle tissue and
recovery after exercise
• They come in the form of tablets, capsules, a solution
for injection and a cream or gel to rub into the skin
• The anabolic (building) effect is dependent on the
dosage
• These are used for medical reasons for rehabilitation
and muscle wastage diseases
• They are also commonly used by body builders and
weight lifters
SUMMARY OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS
POSITIVE EFFECTS
Increase muscle
mass and strength
and may aid in
recovery of highintensity training.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
USERS
Affect the balance of
sex hormones (women
= reduction in breast
size, hair growth and
develop a deeper
voice, Men = larger
breasts, reduction in
size of their penis).
Acne, weak joints and
aggressiveness.
High
intensity/
short
duration
athletes.
LEGAL
STATU
S
Illegal
ANALGESICS/ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
AGENTS
• Analgesics come in the form of non-steroidal aspirin
and ibuprofen, but also in the form of steroidal
cortisone injections (unless accompanied by a medical
note)
• These relieve pain and act as anti-inflammatory agents
to relieve swelling
• They are often taken in combination after soft tissue
injuries to relieve pain/inflammation
• Analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents are often
used prior to competition to mask pain in order to
allow performers to compete
• If used in this way there is likely to be further and more
severe injuries
MASKING AGENTS
• These all have the same aim, which is to
prevent the identification of other agents,
normally a banned illegal agent
• If masking agents are detected they are
classified as a positive test in the same way as
the substance they would be hiding would
have done
• Diuretics are a common masking agent that
increase urine production to help athletes to
flush steroids out of their system
PLENARY