What Are The Physical Effects Of Taking Performance-Enhancing Drugs?

Taking performance-enhancing drugs can result in increased muscle mass, strength, endurance, and decreased fatigue. However, they can also lead to negative side effects such as baldness, infertility, shrunken testicles, increased aggressiveness, anxiety attacks, and hypertension.

Tyson Gay, an American sprinter known for his speed in the 100- and 200-meter dash, holds the record as the second-fastest athlete in history, following Usain Bolt. Gay has won medals in various international competitions, including a silver medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

However, his reputation took a hit when he tested positive for an anabolic steroid in 2013. As a result, he was suspended and stripped of his silver medal by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

(From L-R) Lance Armstrong, Tyson Gay, Maria Sharapova, Diego Maradona – some of the many athletes that have tested positive for using PEDs at some point in their career.

Throughout sporting history, there have been numerous cases of athletes testing positive for banned substances and facing suspensions. The question is, what do these drugs do to athletes’ bodies that give them exceptional performance? What makes athletes risk their career and reputation for these drugs?

What Are Performance-Enhancing Drugs?

Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) are substances that are known to enhance certain physical features, such as strength, power, and endurance, resulting in improved athletic performance. Any substance that enhances physical activity or affects arousal level and perception of pain is considered a PED.

PEDs give users an unfair advantage over other participants in a sporting event by affecting their bodily attributes.

The use of PEDs, also known as doping, is strictly prohibited in sports worldwide. Anabolic agents, peptide hormones, diuretics, and masking agents are among the many drugs banned by the USADA.

While these drugs are commonly associated with athletes and bodybuilders, they are also used by military personnel and students to enhance performance in various fields.

How Do Performance-enhancing Drugs Affect Athlete Performance?

There are different types of drugs that affect various bodily features and functions for a short period of time. Athletes choose a PED based on the specific demands of their sport. Here are some commonly used types of PEDs:

Anabolic Agents And Steroids

Anabolic drugs are the most commonly used and well-known category of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). These drugs increase the levels of testosterone in the body, which helps in building muscle, gaining strength, and aiding muscle recovery after workouts. Anabolic agents also have a positive effect on aggression, which is beneficial in certain sports events.

Ben Johnson lost his Olympic gold medal after testing positive for stanozolol, an anabolic drug that boosts testosterone levels.

However, excessive use of anabolic agents can lead to various negative side effects, including hair loss, infertility, and testicular shrinkage. Some commonly known anabolic drugs include stanozolol, clenbuterol, and Androstenedione.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

Growth hormone is naturally produced by the pituitary gland, but its production decreases with age. When used as a drug, it temporarily enhances speed and strength, making it a popular PED in sports.

Lance Armstrong, a cyclist and seven-time Tour de France winner, was found guilty of using HGH and other drugs (Photo Credit : flickr.com).

Stimulants

Stimulants improve focus and alertness. Athletes often use drugs like amphetamines, ephedrine, and methylphenidate, which stimulate the central nervous system, increase reaction time, and enhance hand-eye coordination and focus. These advantages are particularly beneficial in sports like football.

Ergogenic Aids

Also known as athletic performance-enhancing substances, this category includes drugs that have various short-term effects on the body. These effects include reduced fatigue, increased exercise capacity, and other benefits that significantly improve athletic performance. Examples of this category include amphetamine, methylphenidate, and creatine.

Creatine, a popular muscle-building supplement, is also considered a prohibited PED.

Nootropics

PEDs are often associated with athletes and bodybuilders, but there is a class of PEDs that stands out in this regard. Nootropics, also known as “cognition enhancers,” temporarily affect cognitive functions such as memory, attention control, and concentration. Therefore, they are commonly used by students and academics.

There are other categories of PEDs, including sedatives and anxiolytics, adaptogens, and blood boosters. These categories have their own list of prohibited drugs that cannot be used before sporting events.

The Negative Effects Of PEDs

Although PEDs can have immediate benefits for the body and performance, they also have severe long-term side effects, both physically and psychologically. Hair loss, impotence, breast tissue development, reduced sperm production, hypertension, anemia, severe headaches, increased aggression leading to criminal behavior, and anxiety attacks are just a few of the numerous negative effects of PED use.

Apart from being extremely detrimental to individuals both physically and psychologically, the usage of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) is also profoundly unethical. By artificially improving one’s performance through illicit methods, not only does one achieve an unjust victory, but they also deprive honest and dedicated athletes of their opportunity to succeed.