Doping means taking or using illicit substances to achieve an increase in performance, especially in sports. In competitive sports, doping is prohibited because doping substances can sometimes cause serious damage to health as well as an unequal distribution of opportunities in sports competitions. Doping in a broader sense is also common in the world of work (including study).
What is doping?
Doping means taking or using illicit substances to achieve an increase in performance, especially in sports. The term doping comes from the English language. “To dope” means to administer drugs. However, the term originally came from South Africa, where “dop” was used to describe a strong liquor. The definition of doping can hardly be narrowed down precisely and is now regarded as a problem for society as a whole. The doping rules currently in force in international competitive sports are based on a doping list published annually by the World Anti-Doping Agency and supplemented by new active substances and methods. Since the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2004, doping has included, on the one hand, the use of a substance or method that is potentially hazardous to health for the purpose of enhancing athletic performance. On the other hand, doping means the presence in the athlete’s body of a substance mentioned on the above-mentioned list or the use of a method named on this list. Doping in work and study refers to the abuse of drugs to enhance performance.
Function, effect and goals
Illicit doping refers primarily to competitive sports, not recreational sports in general. Although the doping list is considered binding at least for all Olympic sports, each sports federation can define for itself what is meant by doping. The classes of substances banned in doping include stimulants that affect the central nervous system. They are used in doping because they increase heart and breathing rates and brain function. They also increase alertness, competitiveness and aggression, and reduce fatigue and pain. Furthermore, hormones for muscle building (anabolic-androgenic steroids, anabolic steroids or AAS) are often used for doping. Testosterone, for example, is one of them. Another drug used for doping is the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which increases the number of red blood cells in order to better supply the body tissues with oxygen and improve endurance performance. When doping with narcotics, temporary pain sensation and internal pressure are dissolved. Diuretics are diuretic substances. They therefore fall under doping because dopers intend to conceal doping by taking them. If urine excretion is increased by diuretics, a doping substance used can hardly be detected in a urine sample examined during doping controls. One prohibited doping method is blood doping. This involves either re-infusion of the patient’s own blood or transfusion of blood from another source. This doping method is supposed to improve the red blood cells, the oxygen transport and thereby the endurance performance. Finally, the term doping includes some classes of substances with certain restrictions, namely alcohol, cannabinoids, local anesthetics, corticosteroids as well as beta-blockers. If an athlete violates the World Anti-Doping Agency’s anti-doping rules, it can result in a ban of two years in the worst case, even the first time, and a life ban can be imposed for a further violation.
Risks, side effects and dangers
Anabolic androgenic steroids can cause serious health side effects when doped. In men, they can lead to feminization, or feminization; in women, they can lead to virilization (masculinization). Other risks include liver cysts, heart disorders, deepening of the voice and beard growth in women, and hair loss and testicular shrinkage in men. Stimulants used for doping can lead to complete, sometimes life-threatening exhaustion of the person concerned. They can also cause psychological disorders such as dependence or depression, as well as physical effects such as hallucinations, cardiac arrhythmias or severe tremors. The extremely dangerous hormone EPO, which is frequently used for doping, increases the risks of developing high blood pressure and suffering a heart attack or stroke.Doping with narcotics can lead to respiratory paralysis and circulatory shock, as well as physical and psychological dependence. Diuretics can cause a drop in blood pressure. In addition, doping with diuretics can cause cardiac arrhythmias because too many electrolytes such as magnesium or potassium are excreted with the increased urine. Doping with blood doping can increase blood pressure and the risk of thrombosis. Furthermore, improper doping can transmit a life-threatening infection such as hepatitis or HIV.
