Doping in sport corresponds to the use of prohibited substances that stimulate muscle growth or improve the performance and physical resistance of the athlete, in an artificial and temporary way, achieving better results in the sport he practices.
Due to the fact that the substances temporarily increase the athlete's performance in the short term, it is considered a dishonest practice, so that athletes who are positive for doping are eliminated from the competition.
Doping is more frequent to be detected during sports competitions, such as the Olympics and the World Cup. For this reason, it is common for high-performance athletes to undergo an anti-doping test to check for the presence of prohibited substances in the body.
Most used substances
The most used substances that are considered doping are those that increase muscle strength and endurance, decrease pain and the feeling of fatigue. Some of the main substances used are:
- Erythropoietin (EPO): helps to increase the cells that carry oxygen in the blood, improving performance; Furosemide: potent diuretic that helps to reduce weight quickly, used mainly by fighting athletes with weight categories. It also helps to dilute and hide other prohibited substances in the urine; Energetic: increase attention and disposition, reducing the feeling of tiredness; Anabolics: hormones used to increase strength and muscle mass.
In addition, athletes and their team receive a list of recommendations and medications that cannot be used during training because they contain substances considered illegal in sport. Thus, it is necessary to be attentive even during treatments of common diseases such as flu and high cholesterol, and skin problems, because even without the intention of doping, the athlete can be eliminated from the competition.
How the doping test is done
The anti-doping exam is always done in competitions to check if there was any fraud and that may have interfered with the final result, which can be done before, during or after the competition. Typically, winners need to take the doping test to prove that they have not used substances or methods considered doping. In addition, exams can also be taken outside the competition period and without prior notice, with the athletes being chosen by lot.
The examination can be done by collecting and analyzing a blood or urine sample, which are evaluated with the aim of identifying the presence or absence of prohibited substances. Regardless of the amount of the substance, if any prohibited substance circulating in the body, or products of its metabolism, is considered doping and the athlete is penalized.
It is also considered doping, according to the Brazilian Doping Control Authority (ABCD), the escape or refusal to carry out the sample collection, possession of a prohibited substance or method and fraud or attempted fraud at any stage of the doping process.
Why doping helps athletes
Using chemicals that are not natural to the body helps to improve the overall performance of the athlete, bringing advantages such as:
- Increase concentration and improve physical capacity; Relieve exercise pain and decrease muscle fatigue; Increase muscle mass and strength; Relax your body and improve concentration; Help you lose weight quickly. So taking these substances causes the athlete has faster and better results than he would get only through training and diet, and that is why they are prohibited in sport.
However, even with the ban, many athletes often use these substances 3 to 6 months before the official competition, during their training to increase their success, then suspending their use to allow the body time to eliminate the substances and the examination anti-doping is negative. However, this practice can be dangerous, since anti-doping tests can be carried out without prior notice.
