Drug users dubbed cheats

[DeadlyAkkuret]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21440448-23211,00.html

Parisotto, who wrote the book Blood Sport and led the research team that developed advanced drug testing for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, said performance and training could be enhanced by illicit drugs similar to cocaine and amphetamines.


"Provided they are not absolutely off their faces, they can absolutely be very performance enhancing," he said.

 

[Tuco]

I seriously doubt players are usuing amphetamines for the sole purpose of cheating. However there are limited benefits for using them.

While amphetamines do nothing for power they do help with endurance - which is a crucial part of modern AR. They reduce the effects of fatigue which is essentially the body's way of preventing overexertion. Caffeine has a simlar effect. And I remember a few years ago that Australian (pentathalon?) guy got a 2yr ban for drinking too many cokes because his caffeine levels were too high.

Excstasy or Dope would be nothing but debiliatating close to a game, however, much in the same way a night on the piss would be.

 

[liz]

I seriously doubt players are usuing amphetamines for the sole purpose of cheating. However there are limited benefits for using them.

While amphetamines do nothing for power they do help with endurance - which is a crucial part of modern AR. They reduce the effects of fatigue which is essentially the body's way of preventing overexertion.

I know next to nothing about the specific effects of various illicit substances.

But my understanding is that the beneficial performance aspects of steroids considered to be 'performance enhancing' is not a game day effect, but because they enable a player to train longer and harder and sometimes can speed up recovery from injury. The player can therefore get bigger, stronger and fitter more quickly.

If some of these 'recreational' drugs can have the same effect of enabling players to train harder and longer, then there is certainly a case for considering them performance enhancing.

 

[grimlock]

I know next to nothing about the specific effects of various illicit substances.

But my understanding is that the beneficial performance aspects of steroids considered to be 'performance enhancing' is not a game day effect, but because they enable a player to train longer and harder and sometimes can speed up recovery from injury. The player can therefore get bigger, stronger and fitter more quickly.

If some of these 'recreational' drugs can have the same effect of enabling players to train harder and longer, then there is certainly a case for considering them performance enhancing.

I think that's a specious argument. We might as well chuck coffee and those energy drinks into the mix because the caffeine may allow the players to be more aware during early morning training sessions.

 

[liz]

I think that's a specious argument. We might as well chuck coffee and those energy drinks into the mix because the caffeine may allow the players to be more aware during early morning training sessions.

Take your point, but does that mean that steroids shouldn't be considered as performance enhancing either?

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I think that's a specious argument. We might as well chuck coffee and those energy drinks into the mix because the caffeine may allow the players to be more aware during early morning training sessions.

Yeah, because i'm sure coffee is the same as steroids

 

[grimlock]

Yeah, because i'm sure coffee is the same as steroids

Please re-read my comment again.

liz: From my understanding, steroids do have some direct affect on muscle growth but only when used in conjunction with an intensive fitness regime. So that would be the difference between steroids and caffeine.

 

[liz]

liz: From my understanding, steroids do have some direct affect on muscle growth but only when used in conjunction with an intensive fitness regime. So that would be the difference between steroids and caffeine.

Fair enough. As I said up front, I know very little about the specific effects of all these substances.

But how about all those substances that you and I take without thinking about it, in cold and flu remedies, but which are also banned for elite athletes? Some, I know, are banned for their ability to mask other agents, but are some not considered to be performance enhancing in their own right?

I guess the gist of all this is that there seems to be no black and white assessment of whether a particular substance is considered performance enhancing or not - or whether or not it is banned for its performance enhancing properties.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Please re-read my comment again.

liz: From my understanding, steroids do have some direct affect on muscle growth but only when used in conjunction with an intensive fitness regime. So that would be the difference between steroids and caffeine.

I read your comment, and i believe you're taking the matter far too lightly.

 

[grimlock]

Thanks for telling me what I think, I'm sure I'm entitled to your opinion as well. Come back when you want to present a cogent argument.

 

[nicky]

coccaine and amphetamines are anything but performance enhancing. I'm surprised he was as good as he was while using coccaine.

There are many other drugs athletes would take to enhance their game.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

If its not performancing enhancing than who gives. Get over it, you were beaten by a better team, again.

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

If its not performancing enhancing than who gives. Get over it, you were beaten by a better team on the day, again.

Edited for accuracy.

 

[nicky]

Edited for accuracy.

The thing is though this thread wasn't discussing the eagles victory yesterday so his paranoia wasn't neccessary.

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

She was just trying to annoy us. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[stickman11]

drugs, drugs and more drugs.

 

[Benevolent Ert]

Is that a sales pitch?