Performance-enhancing substances and anabolic steroids
Performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, EPO and stimulants are banned by WADA. They give short-term gains but carry serious health risks and career-ending bans.
Common performance-enhancing substances
| Class | Examples | Why athletes misuse them | Main risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anabolic agents | Testosterone, nandrolone, stanozolol; SARMs | More muscle and strength, faster recovery | See the side-effects table |
| EPO and blood doping | Erythropoietin; blood transfusions | More red cells carry more oxygen: endurance | Thick blood, clots, stroke, heart attack |
| Growth hormone | Human growth hormone | Muscle, recovery | Joint pain, diabetes risk, enlarged organs |
| Stimulants | Amphetamines, ephedrine, some 'pre-workout' ingredients | Alertness, less fatigue, weight loss | High blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, heat stroke, addiction |
| Diuretics and masking agents | Furosemide and others | Rapid weight loss for weigh-ins; hiding other drugs in urine | Dehydration, electrolyte loss, cramps |
| Beta-blockers (banned in certain sports) | Propranolol and others | Steady hands in shooting and archery | Low blood pressure, tiredness |
Anabolic steroids
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. They bind androgen receptors in muscle, raise muscle protein synthesis, hold nitrogen and reduce protein breakdown, and can increase aggression and training drive. Athletes and gym users take them by mouth or injection, often in 'cycles' and 'stacks' at many times medical doses. Doctors use them only for specific conditions such as delayed puberty or muscle wasting. In sport they are banned at all times, in and out of competition.
Side effects of anabolic steroids
| Group | Effects |
|---|---|
| Men | Shrinking testes, low sperm count, breast enlargement (gynaecomastia), baldness |
| Women | Deeper voice, facial and body hair, menstrual problems; some changes are permanent |
| Teenagers | Early closure of growth plates, so adult height is stunted |
| Both sexes | Acne, liver damage and tumours (especially oral forms), lower HDL and higher LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, tendon injuries |
| Mind | Mood swings, aggression, depression on stopping, dependence |
| Injection use | HIV and hepatitis from shared needles |
The anti-doping system
- WADA (set up in 1999) runs the World Anti-Doping Code and updates the Prohibited List every year.
- Some substances are banned at all times; others only in competition or in particular sports.
- NADA India tests Indian athletes in and out of competition and runs education programmes; India's National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 gives the system legal backing.
- Strict liability: the athlete is responsible for whatever is in the sample.
- A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) allows a banned medicine when there is a genuine medical need.
- Penalties include bans that can last several years, loss of medals and results.
Young gym-goers and athletes are often offered 'muscle boosters'. The dietitian's message: real gains come from training, enough energy and 1.2-2.0 g/kg protein from food; any product must be batch-tested, and every medicine checked against the WADA Prohibited List before use.
2 marks: “What are anabolic steroids?” Synthetic derivatives of testosterone with muscle-building (anabolic) and masculinising (androgenic) effects; banned in sport by WADA.
5 marks: “List the side effects of anabolic steroids.” Effects in men, women and teenagers, effects in both sexes (liver, heart, cholesterol, acne), mental effects and injection risks.
10 marks: “Discuss the use of performance-enhancing substances among athletes, with special reference to anabolic steroids.” Classes of substances, anabolic steroids (what, how, use), side effects, other drugs, the anti-doping system, and safe nutrition alternatives.
Steroids S-T-E-A-L health: Stunted growth, Testicular shrinkage, Enlarged breasts in men, Acne and aggression, Liver and heart damage.