The Use Of Hormone Doping In Sports And Its Implications
Doping is the use of banned substances by athletes to improve their performances in their various sports. In the world-famous case of talented cyclist Lance Armstrong who was caught doping in the Tour de France, the 3 main hormones he used for their respective advantages were Erythropoietin, the human growth hormone and testosterone. Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by kidney cells which is usually used to treat patients with Anemia who suffer from a lack of sufficient healthy red blood cells in their blood containing the special protein hemoglobin to carry oxygen to all body cells therefore making anemic patients feel fatigued as their cells are not receiving enough oxygen needed for the process of cellular respiration. Erythropoietin promotes an increase in the production of red blood cells, the higher hemoglobin levels help oxygen in the blood to be transported efficiently around the body. Patients who have damaging kidney diseases which leads to them having insufficient levels of Erythropoietin therefore low levels of hemoglobin also receive hormone treatment. Erythropoietin can also be used as a replacement to blood transfusions needed during surgery. Erythropoietin provides the athlete’s muscles with more oxygen which better allows the muscles to recover from injury and strain while improving endurance.
Like all other hormones when increased levels of Erythropoietin are reached in the body there are side effects. The increase of EPO causes an increase in red blood cells in the blood causing the blood to thicken giving the patient an increased risk to heart diseases or strokes. Testosterone, the reproductive hormone found in both women and men provide vital functions to both. Produced in the testes of men it stimulates the development of sex organs during puberty, triggers sperm production and a sex drive. Hypogonadism in men and women causes low levels of testosterone to be produced by the gonads – the treatment of hypogonadism is the injection (or different method) of testosterone to increase the amounts to a required level. The side effects include a decrease in sperm count, smaller testes and more aggressive behavior. With the media promoting society’s design of the ideal yet unrealistic male body with emphasis being placed on a more muscular , toned body ; it isn’t a surprise that adolescent men are experiencing body image issues , breaking the stereotype that these issues are generally faced by women the pressure on men to fit these ideals has caused some men to develop muscular dysmorphia , an eating disorder that causes the patient to believe that they are not muscular enough and without treatment forces them to turn to harmful methods to help them achieve the ‘perfect body’ and improve their appearance .Extreme weightlifting and a strict exercise routine combined with the widespread use of testosterone in the form of anabolic steroids increases muscle mass of the body. Excessive amounts of testosterone in the body has harmful repercussions on the user – the possibility of becoming infertile, impaired judgment, negative effects on mental health causing depression, anxiety, hallucinations, risk of cancer and liver damage as well as becoming extremely hostile and aggressive.
An intake of testosterone misinforms your body that it no longer needs to produce it leading to a decrease in the natural production of it. So, when a person stops the intake of testosterone, the testes are no longer producing it or are producing it in lower amounts which causes the user to have to continually take testosterone to avoid the effects of no testosterone like Another common abuse of testosterone is in sport, they grant athletes with an increase in muscle mass, increased strength and more motivation to train with a higher level of mental focus. The human growth hormone promotes the growth of the skeleton and muscles in the human body and is essential for normal growth and development. used alongside testosterone and anabolic steroids HGH is injected or orally ingested by athletes to enhance their performance by building muscle, an intake of the hormone can treat patients who suffer from minor to major cases such as pituitary dwarfism due to an under secretion of the HGH. Insulin is another hormone that is misused by athletes long-distance runners find that it boosts their stamina, they usually take insulin and glucose or foods with a high sugar content simultaneously to counteract the effects of an overdose of insulin which would occur if taken alone – an overdose is unsafe because too much sugar would be removed from the blood without a replacement. Bodybuilders use insulin to prevent the breakdown of their muscles during the intense exercise sessions that they endure. Overall the common method of getting substances into the blood stream is by injections of substances from vials. If not done correctly and all equipment not sterile and hygienic the user faces the risk of getting an infection or having dirt and bacteria enter the bloodstream. If the equipment is shared there is an increased risk of users contracting HIV or other blood-borne diseases.
The Concerns Around the Abuse of Hormones
The use of performance enhancing drugs in sport is a problem that has spread around the world with many famous athletes being caught doping before major sport games by being tested positive for increased levels of different hormones and other banned substances used to improve their athletic ability. Doping of hormones in sports such as the ones mentioned above gives athletes an unfair advantage compared to their fellow competitors. If world famous athletes who have reached the top of their sport are doping, there is a major concern that those less talented will be also be joining the trend. These athletes are role models to young aspiring athletes who follow their example. These concerns lead to the speculation of whether there should still be a ban on the use of enhancing substances or if they should be condoned and the ethical concerns behind them. Due to the serious damage that most of these substances can cause and the unfair advantage provided. The detection of substances in athletes is done by either testing the blood or the urine as they are drug-specific. However, some people are born with naturally higher levels of certain hormones which leads to complications with how to deal with those cases.
How These Concerns Should be Addressed and How They are Currently Being Addressed
Strict action should be taken on those athletes guilty of using PEDs, by taking away their medals and awards unfairly received while under the influence of the PEDs and being suspended from participating in competitive events for a specific time period. Initiatives aimed at stopping doping launched by different institutes provide hope to a future of reduced doping in sport and fair play in the world of sport. For example, the SA institute for drug Free sport with their mission of ‘Play clean, play fair and play true’ launched an initiative known as the ‘I play fair – say no to doping’ which is spreading ideas of ethical participation by playing fair and not doping in sports. The institute has also launched a program designed for athletes and coaches to educate them on the risks of taking PEDs. In 2012, they motivated the South African athletes participating the in 2012 world Olympics to take an ‘I play fair’ pledge hoping that they stay true to their promise.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has been working to achieve their vision of ‘A world where all athletes can compete in a doping-free sporting environment’. They focus on prevention by education by educating coaches, athletes on the dangers of doping and legal consequences of it. They have also made an extensive list of the substances that are prohibited in sport while supporting the research of the development of effective detection and testing of these substances. The WADA are responsible for the assurance that all athletes have accepted and applied the World Anti-Doping Code which is a document that combines all the worldwide doping rules and regulations. The way in which the concerns of hormone abuse is being addressed is in the right direction and with the continuation of it equality and fair competition in sport can be achieved. Hormones are substances that need to be accurately at the right level to avoid any complications in the body. The world of hormone therapy has opened up new possibilities in medicine. Doping and the misuse of hormones has given negative connotations to these life-saving substances.
