Beta blockers as doping agents in sport
Of course, the desired, or even the undesired, effects of beta-blockers can be used as a method of doping, even in sports. Especially in sports that require great accuracy and full concentration, beta blockers clearly have a performance-enhancing effect. By taking beta-blockers, tension and nervousness before competitions can be reduced, which corresponds to an unfair competitive advantage.
For these reasons, the national and international associations for archery, golf or skiing, for example, have added beta blockers to the list of substances banned in sport. In other sports, however, especially in endurance-oriented competitions, taking a beta blocker is not considered doping and is therefore not controlled. In sports that require less skill but more endurance and/or strength, taking a beta-blocker even has a weakening effect on the athlete’s performance, so that doping attempts are unnecessary.
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