CHAPTER 70 • MEDICATIONS AND ERGOGENICS 419- Injectable products carry the risk of disease trans-
mission if needles are shared.
ETHICAL AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
•Winning simply through training and ability should be
the athletic ideal; it is often not the reality. Athletes are
constantly caught in the dilemma of trying to keep up
with what their competitors may be trying to do.
Many athletes will try these products even though the
product has not been shown to work, has serious side
effects, or is banned by the sports governing body
ruling over the sport in which the athlete is competing.
- In an attempt to keep the playing field level, various ama-
teur and professional organizations have instituted drug
policies. These policies are targeted toward substances
that may be dangerous, illegal, and/or give an unfair
competitive advantage. For example, the use of anabolic
steroids had become so widespread by the 1964
Olympics that drug testing began at the 1968 Olympic
Games in Mexico City, with the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) following in 1986. - The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
and other organizations have taken a position on ana-
bolic steroids stating that they are unethical, have dan-
gerous side effects, and their use should be deplored
(American College of Sports Medicine, 1987). - The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 made ana-
bolic steroids a Schedule III controlled substance. - Anabolic steroids are not the only substances banned
by sports governing bodies such as the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and NCAA. The IOC
developed their list in 1967.- Because of many doping scandals, the U.S. Antidoping
Agency (USADA) was formed in 2000 as an inde-
pendent antidoping organization for Olympic sports in
the United States. The list of banned substances for the
IOC can be viewed on their website at http://www.
usantidoping.org and there is a telephone hotline to
answer any questions at 800-233-0393 (U.S.
Antidoping Agency, 2003). - The NCAA has their list at http://www.ncaa.org/
sports_sciences/drugtesting/banned_list.html
(National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2003). - Because the lists are continually changing, physi-
cians caring for athletes in these or other organiza-
tions should always consult prior to writing a
prescription or suggesting over the counter reme-
dies.
•Testing is done using analyzing urine samples through
a number of methods, with most confirmatory tests
done using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.
In the future, blood or hair samples may be used to
detect banned substances.
SPECIFIC ERGOGENIC AIDS- Specific ergogenic aids will be reviewed here regard-
ing their efficacy, safety, and use in Olympic and
NCAA competition. Table 70-1 gives an overview of
many ergogenic aids, their effects on the six fitness
components and their safety.
TABLE 70-1 Ergogenic Aids, Their Effect on Fitness Components, and Dangerous Side Effects
PRODUCT AEROBIC ANAEROBIC STRENGTH BODY.COMP PSYCH HEALING DANGER
Amphetamines ++ + ++— +
Anabolic — — +++? +
steroids
Antioxidants — — — — —? —
Bicarbonate — + ——+ ——
Blood doping + —————+
Caffeine ++ ——?——
Caffeine+ + ——+ ?——
ephedrine
Carbohydrate +?
Clenbuterol???
CoQ10?
DHEA??
Ephedrine ++?+
Ginseng?
Glucosamine and?
chondroitin
Glycerol rare
Growth hormone +?
Hydration +
Vitamins