DOPING

1. INTRODUCTION

Doping refers to the usage of prohibited substances such as PED's or Performance Enhancing Drugs, or other methods in order to enhance their performance in sports. These substances usually include steroids, hormones, stimulants, or other drugs that can significantly, most importantly artifically, improve an athlete's strength, endurance and overall performance. Doping is obviously considered illegal and is strictly prohibited in competitive sports due to unfair advantage over other fellow athletes. Sports organizations and governing bodies have strict regulations and testing procedures in place to test or detect doping in sports. Anabolic steroids or man-made testosterone usually mimic the effects of testosterone and helps the athletes in muscle growth and significantly increasing their strength. The prevelance of doping has prompted sports organizations to implement stringent anti-doping measures. Drug testing is one of the measures, conducted both in and out of competitions. Athletes are subjected to random testing, and samples are analyzed for traces of these banned substances or abnormal levels of certain compounds.

1.1 Substances used for doping

A very common steroid called the Anabolic steroid, as mentioned earlier, is the most well-known form of doping. It mimics testosterone and is usually given to males with hormonal problems such as delayed puberty or lose of muscle due to deceases such as HIV or cancer[1]. Athletes such as Maria Sharapova who was the Russian No.1 Tennis player, was caught using the drug Meldonium, which also ''improves rehabilitation after exercise, provides protection against stress and enhances activations of central nervous system functions''[2]. Athletes have usually used these steroids to help them improve their performance, but they also obviously, significantly, come with health risks such as liver damage, hormonal imbalances, and cardiovascular diseases. Another commonly used abused substance is Erythropoietin or EPO, which boosts red-blood cell production and increases oxygen delivery to muscles which in return improves stamina and performance[3]. Cyclists, such as Bjarne Riis, was caught doping in an endurance-based competition called the Tour de France and was associated with EPO as it provided a significant performance advantage[4]. Another common form of doping is using stimulants. Amphetamines, a stimulant, is used to heighten alertness and reduce fatigue which in return allows athletes to push their bodies beyond normal limits. They also enhance focus and can temporarily mask the feeling of tiredness in athletes, but also pose serious health risks such as heart problems (heart attack and irregular heartbeat) and addiction[5]. Peptide hormones like HGH or the human growth hormone are used to promote muscle growth, fat loss, and fasten recovery. This drug usually stimulates the release of a hormone called the 'IGF-1' which stimulates the growth of the body. Despite their potential benefits, they once again pose threats to health, such as joint pain, nerve damage and diabetes[6].

1.2 Types of Testing for doping

The first type of test is the Urine test. This test involves in the collection of urine samples from the athletes. These samples are analyzed for the presence of banned substances or their metabolities. They are usually used for routine and out-of-competition testing. The second type of testing is called the Blood test. These tests are employed to detect suctances that usually cannot be identified in urine or, identify blood abnormalities, or to identify certain biomarkers which indicate protential doping practices. This test can also reveal the presence of EPO, blood transfusions and other blood-related doping methods. The third type of testing is the Saliva test. This is used to identify stimulants and cannabinoids. Then come the hair tests which can trace steroids and also detect long-term drug use. The next type of testing is the ABP or the Athlete Biological Passport. This method involves monitoring an athlete's biological variables over time, such as hormonal profiles of blood parameters. Deviation from an individual's established baseline could indicate doping. The biological passport is a longitudinal approach that tracks changes rather than detecting specific substances itslef[7].

1.3 Strategies used by Athletes to avoid testing positive for Doping

There has been a cat-and-mouse game between anti-doping authorities and athletes seeking to evade detection. Some athletes employ various strategies to avoid testing postitive, including micro-dosing. This means to use tiny amounts of a substance that may not be detectable by all the tests mentioned above, or using masking agents such as Diuretics[8] to hide traces of banned substances. Despite efforts to curb doping, scandals continue to shock the world of sports. One of the notable cases, such as the BALCO scandal[9] involving athletes such as Marion Jones has shed light on the widespread nature of doping and its organizational complexities. These scandals and efforts made by the athletes have tarnished the reputations of athletes, raised questions about the efficiency of anti-doping measures and testings, and destroyed the trust of fans in the fairness of the sports competitions.

1.4 Consequences of doping and measures to stopping it

The consequences of doping are far-fetched and severe. Athletes caught doping face sanctions, including suspensions, loss of titles, and disqualifications from competitions. The damage extends beyond individual athletes; it undermines the credibility of sports as a whole, and tarnishes the achievements of clean and sincere athletes and casts doubts on the legitimacy of results. The Indian parliament passed the National Anti-Doping Bill in 2022 to prevent doping[9]. Efforts to combat doping require a varied approch. Education and awareness compaigns aimed at athletes, coaches, and support staff play a crucial role in fostering a culture of clean composition. Stricter penalties and enforcement measures serve as a shield, discouraging athletes from engaging in doping practices. Collaborative efforts among sports oranisations, governments, and anti-doping agencies are essential to develop and implement effective anti-doping measures and policies.

2. CONCLUSION

Ultimately, eradicating doping from sports demands a collective commitment to upholding values of fairness, integrity, and respect for the spirit of the competition. It requires a continuous evolution of anti-doping strategies to stay ahead of evolving methods used by those seeking to gain an unfair advantage. And to combat this, anti-doping organisations are continuously refining and updating their testing protocols. This includes development of more sophisticated testing methods and the expansion of the list of their banned substances. Most interestingly, intelligence-based tesing, targets specific athletes or groups suspected of doping, and complements routine testing to enhance the effectiveness of anti-doping efforts. And by preserving the essence of fair play, sports can maintain their positive influence and inspire athletes to achieve greatness through dedication, grit and ethical conduct.

3. CITATIONS

1. Anabolic steroids, available at (https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/steroids), last visited (23-12-2023).

2. Meldonium, the drug that got Maria Sharapova suspended from tennis, available at (https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/08/health/sharapova-doping-meldonium-mildronate/index.html ), last visited(23-12-2023).

3. Blood doping and EPO, available at (https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/blood-doping-epo-faq/#:~:text=Why%20is%20EPO%20prohibited%3F,therefore%20increase%20stamina%20and%20performance.), last visited(23-12-2023).

4. BJARNE RIIS, available at (https://olympics.com/en/athletes/bjarne-riis), last visited(23-12-2023).

5. Substance use - amphetamines, available at (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000792.htm), last visited(23-12-2023).

6. Growth hormone in sport, available at (https://www.usada.org/spirit-of-sport/education/growth-hormone-what-athletes-should-know/#:~:text=Growth%20hormone%20is%20in%20the,%2C%20and%20masters%2Dlevel%20athletes. ), last visited(23-12-2023).

7. Athlete Biological Passport, available at (https://www.wada-ama.org/en/athlete-biological-passport), last visited(23-12-2023).

8. Diuretics, available at (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2962812/ ), last visited(23-12-2023).

9. National Anti-Doping Bill 2022, available at (https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1848085#:~:text=The%20Union%20Minister%20of%20Youth,their%20own%20Anti%2DDoping%20Law. ), last visited(23-12-2023).