DRUG ABUSE AND SPORTS

Drug abuse is serious concern in today’s sporting scenario where to some
the “boost” of drugs claims upheaval but destroys the very ethics of
sporting spirit. From a long time the use of drugs by sportsperson have
bewildered the retrospect of sporting arena. Such is the realization of
drug abuse that mere banning fell short of its abolition. From legends to
arts men of sports most have succumbed to the use of drugs irrespective of
the effects of its contamination.”Drug abuse” a word often misquoted has
since mystified and lost in the soul of the powerhouses of sports. Drug
abuse among athletes is a problem as old as time. In certain instances, it
may not even be the fault of the athlete, especially if the athlete
prefers to self-medicate himself for minor illnesses. As some of these
substances are readily available in the market, athletes are more prone to
mishandling these drugs. Drug abuse has been reported since the Greeks
started the Olympics in 776BC. It was then reported that certain
substances were ingested by competitors in attempts to gain some ground
against fellow competitors.
However, it was not until the early 19th century that the problem of drug
abuse became a great menace to the sport.
There were incidents where death ensued following drug abuse. In the late
19th century, it was reported that French athletes drank a concoction of
cocoa leaves and wine in order to reduce the sensation of fatigue and
hunger. As a result, they were able to withstand strenuous forms of
exercise and physical activity.
POSSIBLE RISK OF DRUG ABUSE :
Impaired judgement.
Increase reaction time.
Impaired muscular coordination.
Impaired balance.
Impaired performance of complex activities.
Decreased strength and flexibility.
Decreased accleration and accuracy.
Sport has been promoted as an alternative to drug abuse, especially among
the young. Ironically, instead, drug abuse has been perversely associated
with success and glory in sport. The patriotic slogan that "what counts is
not the winning but taking part" seems to have lost its vitality.
Drug-taking has corrupted the ideal of sports. The pressure of winning
will make athletes do almost anything to find the extra bit that could
make the difference. Many techniques are introduced and employed by
athletes in order to gain that extra mileage in their respective fields.
These methods are used to increase the effects of drugs and to avoid
detection during drug tests.
Another form of doping is blood doping , either by blood transfusion or
use of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). Doping is considered unethical
by most international sports organizations and especially the
International Olympic Committee.
Social commitment and sports excellence must go hand in hand and not
undermine one another. The emphasis should be on educating and motivating
athletes, not to abuse drugs. It would be more encouraging if sport
organizations are more consistent and logical their decision-making.
Otherwise sports will be reduced to a contest between drugs, money and
politics.
The number and variety of drugs use by athletes are rather alarming.
Substances used as ergogenic aids are meant to primarily increase size,
endurance and strength of the athletes. Some of the substances that have
been identified and associated with drug abuse in sport are listed below:
1) Amphetamine.
2) Darbepoetin.
3) Dhea
4) Diuretics.
5) Ephedrine
6) Human growth hormone.
7) Insulin.
8) Methamphetamine.
9) Modafinil.
10)Norandrosterone.
11)Nandrolone.
13)Testosterone.
The use of anabolic steroids is banned by all major sporting bodies,
including the WTA, ITF, International Olympic Committee, FIFA, UEFA, all
major professional golf tours, the National Hockey League, Major League
Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the European Athletic
Association and the National Football League.
The World Weightlifting Championships of 1954 featured the first
unconfirmed attempt at doping. Testosterone injections by Soviet Athletes
resulted in the Soviets winning the gold medal in most weight classes and
breaking several world records.
Since time and again the penetration of drugs has been influenced and
traversed a long journey haunting the corridors of sporting
fraternity.
The Anti-Doping Convention of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg was
opened for signature on 16 December 1989 as the first multilateral legal
standard in this field. It has been signed by 48 states including the
Council of Europe non-member states Australia, Belarus, Canada and
Tunisia. The Convention is open for signature by other non-European
states. It does not claim to create a universal model of anti-doping, but
sets a certain number of common standards and regulations requiring
Parties to adopt legislative, financial, technical, educational and other
measures.
Though many conventions and charter bodies have been created