Overview of Drugs in Sport Throughout History

Overview of Drugs in sport throughout history

The topic of Drugs in sport has been an ongoing issue in Australian and world sport since the ability for athletes to have access to these banned substances began. This concept of “ doping” began as early as Ancient Greek times when early Olympians used extract of mushrooms and plants seeds to enhance their sporting performance, even as early as the Roman period mix drugs where fed to horses and even gladiators doped during the vigorous fights which where held during this time (Turfman, S.T, 2004).

The use of drugs in sport however has transformed dramatically since it began with new forms of doping methods developing as agencies such as the world anti doping agency (WADA) have continued to crack down on these illicit substances being used to increased sporting performance the elite level. The types doping mechanisms that have been used in recent times include anabolic steroids such as erythropoietin, human growth hormones, beta agonists and diuretics. This use of drugs has transformed into other methods of doping such as blood doping, gene doping and chemical and physical manipulation through tampering with samples and infusing different bloods and genes (S, Patil 2012). 1976 was the first major step towards abolishing the use of banned substances on the world stage when The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned the use of steroids, however high profile and disgraced athletes such as the ex women’s 100 meters world record holder Marion Jones and US home Run record holder Barry bonds used steroids such Tetrahydrogestrinone that weren’t traceable by world doping agencies, nevertheless these doping cheats where caught and sanctioned accordingly (Shermer, M 2008).

As more athletics continued being caught doping, individual countries began setting up their own Anti doping agencies as increasing number of “dopers” around the world made it difficult for one main agency to monitor this ongoing and current issues in sport today. Therefore agencies such as (ASADA) Australian sport anti doping agency, (UKAD) UK anti doping agencies and (USADA) Us anti doping agency where set up as global counter act the ongoing abuse of illicit substances in sport today (Barroso, O, & Rabin, O 2011).

Drugs in sport today however still has a long way to go in controlling the use and supply at the elite level, there are always new ways individuals using to cheat the system for example when metandienone was finally being able to be detected many people where found using the banned substance (Thevis, M. M. 2013). This use is a widespread and complex issue around the world, for example in smaller countries with less control world wide rules and regulations are often not adhered for example in Malta the issue of drugs use among athletics has been considered an underground phenomenon with poor testing programs therefore drug use in widespread and in fact common among these athletics (Attard, L. 2011). This is a problematic situation in many developing nations as in comparison western nations due to technological advancements have continued to crack down on this issue for example in cycling the use of a biological passport which tracks biological variables in a cyclist's blood and urine over time, monitoring for fluctuations that are thought to indirectly reveal the effects of doping (Hailey, N. 2011). Controversially this year Kenya faced doping issues  According to the BBC Kenya faces strict emposements from WADA  “Since January 2012, 17 Kenyan athletes have been suspended for using performance enhancing drugs compared with only two between 2010 and 2012” ( Telegraph sport 2013). Wada’s director David Howman listed Kenya as one on the major problems for the organisation (Kamga J, P. 2003).

In totality the issue of drugs in sport is and always will be an issue for world doping authorities and clean athletics as drug cheats are finding new and innovative ways to beat the system in this technological advanced world. It is important to consider that doping has been around for centuries however as sport continues to become a part of culture and sporting people becoming idols for children and individuals in many countries the continual crackdown is essential for sport itself.

Reference List

Turfman, S.T, 2004. Drugs in sport: a brief history. The Guardian, 8 February 2004. 7

K., R, S., N, S., S, Patil, N, R., R, & A., V 2012, 'Drug abuse in sports', Journal Of Pharmacy Research, 5, 1, pp. 593-603, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 September 2013.

Shermer, M 2008, 'The Doping Dilemma', Scientific American, 298, 4, pp. 82-89, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 September 2013.

Mazzoni, I, Barroso, O, & Rabin, O 2011, 'The list of Prohibited Substances and Methods in Sport: Structure and Review Process by the World Anti-Doping Agency', Journal Of Analytical Toxicology, 35, 9, pp. 608-612, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 21 September 2013

Guddat, S. S., Fußhöller, G. G., Beuck, S. S., Thomas, A. A., Geyer, H. H., Rydevik, A. A., & ... Thevis, M. M. (2013). Synthesis, characterization, and detection of new oxandrolone metabolites as long-term markers in sports drug testing. Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry, 405(25), 8285-8294. doi:10.1007/s00216-013-7218-1

Mifsud, J., Attard, D., & Attard, L. (2011). Drug doping in sports: an overview and recommendations for the Maltese context. Malta Medical Journal, 23(1), 16-21.

Hailey, N. (2011). A FALSE START IN THE RACE AGAINST DOPING IN SPORT: CONCERNS WITH CYCLING'S BIOLOGICAL PASSPORT. Duke Law Journal, 61(2), 393-432.

Telegraph sport, T.L, 2013. Kenya under fire from Wada after alarming increase in number of athletes testing positive for drugs. The Telegraph , 30 October. 6

Ama P F, M., Betnga, B., Ama Moor V, J., & Kamga J, P. (2003). Football and doping: study of African amateur footballers. British Journal Of Sports Medicine, 37(4), 307.