Performance-Enhancing Drugs

• Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances that can be taken by athletes to improve their physical performance during competitions and training sessions.
• PEDs cover a range of substances including anabolic steroids, stimulants, human growth hormone (HGH), erythropoietin (EPO), and designer drugs.
• Anabolic steroids are used to increase muscle mass and strength. These can improve performance through increasing the power or endurance of an athlete.
• Whilst steroids can give a short-term performance boost, they also have negative side effects like high blood pressure, kidney damage, and risky changes in cholesterol levels.
• Stimulants such as amphetamines can enhance an individual’s performance by increasing alertness and reducing feelings of fatigue. Negative side effects can include heart attack, stroke, and addiction.
• Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is a PED that assists in the growth of bodily tissues, thus helping muscles to recover faster after training. Side effects can be abnormal bone and tissue growth and diabetes.
• EPO increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, making it popular in endurance sports. However, it may raise the risk of heart attack or stroke due to thicker blood.
• Designer drugs are chemically altered versions of banned substances. They are modified in an attempt to evade detection during drug testing. However, since their effects and potential risks are largely unknown, they are especially dangerous.
• In addition to physical risks, taking PEDs contradicts the ethical principles of sport and can lead to long-term bans from competitive activity.
• Understanding the risks and ethical considerations of PED usage encourages fair play and respect for the human body’s natural capabilities in physical activities.