Drugs Banned From The Olympics
New (and much improved) drug list for 2004
The new list coming into effect on Jan 1st 2004 shows the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) has taken account of the many previous comments and tests in making significant changes to the banned list of drugs, methods, and of procedures. Most notable are:
* The removal of common stimulant decongestants, which will make inadvertent positive tests due to cough and cold remedies much rarer
* The removal of Caffeine from the banned list, thereby reducing the potential for positive dope tests due to coffee, tea, drinks and common cough, cold, and pain-killers
* The introduction of a "monitoring list" whereby permitted
In 1967 The International Olympic Committee was established in order to deal with the increasing problem of doping in the sports world. The initial goal of putting in place an anti-doping structure was rapidly widened to encompass the following three fundamental principals:
- Protection of the health of athletes.
- Respect for both medical and sport ethics.
- Equality for all competing athletes.
For more than 40 years, the IOC Medical Commission has worked in the anti-doping field, studying alternative methods to help athletes. These alternatives consist of sport medicine, biomechanics, physiology applied to sports, nutrition and all the other sciences linked to sports.
The OIC uses a list created by the World Anti Doping Agency. This list of prohibited substances and methods is the international standard.
The prohibited list consists of the following:
*Anabolic Agents
Anabolic agents have been misused in sports to increase muscle strength and bulk and to promote aggressiveness. There are two categories of anabolic agents.
1. Androgenic steroids, which increase testosterone and epitestosterone. They improve competiveness and endurance; increase strength, power and bulk.
The banned drugs in this category are: Andro, DHEA, stanozolol, testosterone and nandrolone. Side effects of these drugs include liver damage, psychological changes, they can stunt growth in teens. In women they can cause loss of breast tissue, male pattern hair growth and loss of menstrual cycle.
2. Beta 2 antagonists, commonly used as asthma medication, when taken into the bloodstream may increase muscle and reduce body fat. The banned drugs in this category are: bambuterol, clenbuterol and salbutamol. The side effects of these drugs include palpitations, headaches, nausea, muscle cramps and dizziness.
*Blood Doping
Blood doping is injection of red blood cells or related blood products that contain red blood cells. Athletes will typically remove and store a few liters of blood before the games. The body replaces the lost blood. The athletes then return the stored blood to their body before the competition. This increases the number of oxygen containing red blood cells and the athlete's endurance. The banned substances in this category are stored blood before the games and artificial oxygen containers. Side effects resulting from blood doping include: heart attack, stroke, transmission of blood borne disease such as HIV and hepatitis and metabolic shock.
*Peptide Hormones
These hormones increase the number of oxygen carrying red blood cells in the bloodstream and thus increase endurance. They also build up weight and muscle bulk. The banned substances in this category are: chorionic gonadatrophin (banned in men only), somatotrophin (growth hormone), synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) and corticotrophin, which mimics corticosteroid use. Side effects from these drugs can include: thickened blood, heart attack, stroke, soft tissue swelling, hypertension, enlarged heart, liver or spleen and use may lead to diabetes.
*Stimulants
These work directly on the central nervous system. They increase heart rate and blood flow. They improve alertness and reduce fatigue. They also may increase competiveness and hostility. The banned drugs in this category include: amphetamines, beta2 agonists, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, fencamfamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, mesocarb and other substances with a similar chemical structure and similar biological effect. . Side effects of these drugs include: high blood pressure, increased and irregular heartbeat, anxiety, loss of appetite, loss of judgment and tremor. These drugs are potentially lethal.
*Diuretics
Diuretics, (or water pills) induce a rapid loss of fluid from the body. They are used to reduce weight quickly (important in sports involving weight categories) and to lower the concentration of drugs in the urine, thereby possibly enabling doping to escape detection. The banned drugs in this category are: acetazolamide, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone.
Side effects of these drugs include: dehydration, which could lead to heart attacks or kidney failure, faintness, dizziness, muscle cramps, headaches and nausea.
*Narcotic Analgesics
Analgesics treat moderate to sever pain. They mask the effect of painful injuries allowing the athletes to continue training or competing. Codeine and a few other painkillers are permitted. The banned drugs in this category are: heroin, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, fentanyl and its derivatives and pethidine. The potential side effects from these drugs are: respiratory depression and they have a high risk of physical and psychological dependence.
* Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids such as marijuana and hashish are prohibited.
Information for the informed athelete:
Banned Substances
Anti Doping Code
Doping in Sport
Weight loss
Insulin
Nandrolone, Testosterone and
Anabolic Steroids
Phenlyephrine
FAQS
Sports Supplements
World Anti-Doping Agency Drug List
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