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Performance-enhancing drugsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Performance-enhancing drugs (also known as PED) are substances used by athletes to improve theirperformances. The term may also refer to drugs used by military personnel to enhance combatperformance.[1] Although the phrase performance-enhancing drugs is popularly used in reference toanabolic steroids or their precursors (hence the colloquial term "steroids"), world anti-doping organizationsapply the term broadly.[2]

Contents1 Types of performance-enhancing drugs2 Definition3 See also4 References5 External links

Types of performance-enhancing drugsThe phrase has been used to refer to several distinct classes of drugs:

Lean mass builders, which drive or amplify the growth of muscle and lean body mass, are also usedto reduce body fat. They can also reduce the time it takes an athlete to recover from an injury. Thisclass of drugs includes anabolic steroids, xenoandrogens, beta-2 agonists, selective androgen receptormodulators (SARMs), and various human hormones, most notably human growth hormone, as well assome of their prodrugs.[3] Performance-enhancing drugs are also found in animals as synthetic growthhormone.Stimulants allow the body and mind to perform optimally by enhancing focus, energy, andaggression. Some examples are caffeine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.[4]Painkillers allow performance beyond the usual pain threshold. Some painkillers raise blood pressure,increasing oxygen supply to muscle cells. Painkillers used by athletes range from common over-the-counter medicines such as NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) to powerful prescription narcotics.Sedatives and anxiolytics are sometimes used in sports like archery which require steady hands andaccurate aim, and also to overcome excessive nervousness or discomfort. Diazepam and propranololare common examples; ethanol and cannabis are also used occasionally.Diuretics expel water from the body. They are often used by athletes who need to meet weightrestrictions, such as wrestlers. Many stimulants also have a secondary diuretic effect and are also usedas masking drugs.Blood boosters increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood beyond the individual's naturalcapacity. They are used in endurance sports like cycling and Nordic skiing. EPO is one of the mostwidely-known drugs in this class.Masking drugs, as a group, do not have any specific type of pharmacodynamic action; a maskingdrug is simply any drug used to prevent the detection of other classes of drugs. The chemicalcompositions and administration regimens of masking drugs change as quickly as testing methodsdo.[5] A common example of a masking drug is epitestosterone, which possesses no performance-

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enhancing effects, but restores the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio (a common criterion in steroidtesting) to normal levels after anabolic steroid supplementation.

DefinitionThe classifications of substances as performance-enhancing drugs are not entirely clear-cut and objective. Asin other types of categorization, certain prototype performance enhancers are universally classified as such(like anabolic steroids), whereas other substances (like vitamins and protein supplements) are virtually neverclassified as performance enhancers despite their effects on athletes' performance. This is because athletescan get the correct amount of protein and supplements their body needs by having a proper diet[6] As is usualwith categorization, there are borderline cases; caffeine, for example, is considered a performance enhancerby some athletic authorities but not others.[7]

See alsoAnabolic steroidBanned substances in baseball in the United StatesBlood dopingBodybuildingErgogenic aidErgogenic use of anabolic steroidsSteroid use in American football

References1. ^ Anon. Better Fighting Through Chemistry? The Role of FDA Regulation in Crafting the Warrior of the Future.

(http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/628/Kochansky_anon.html) Food and Drug Law: Final Paper. March 8, 2004.2. ^ "Performance-Enhancing Drug Resources" (http://www.drugfreesport.com/drug-resources/performance-

enhancing-drugs-steroids.asp). Drug Free Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2013.3. ^ McKelvey Martin, Valerie. "Drugs in Sport" (http://www.ulster.ac.uk/scienceinsociety/drugsinsport.html).

Retrieved 15 April 2013.4. ^ "Stimulants" (http://www.faqs.org/sports-science/Sp-Tw/Stimulants.html). Retrieved 14 April 2013.5. ^ Yesalis, Charles (2007). "12". Anabolic Steroids in Sport and Exercise. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.6. ^ Clark, Nancy. "Athletes and Protein: The Truth About Supplements"

(http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/Athletes_and_protein__The_truth_about_supplements). Retrieved 14 April2013.

7. ^ "Caffeine and Sports Performance"(http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/caffeine_sports.htm). Vanderbilt.edu. Retrieved2012-03-04.

External linksMitchell Report (http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf) regarding Major League Baseball.Risks to health (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/performance-enhancing-drugs/HQ01105) fromMayo Clinic.

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Categories: Drugs in sport Amphetamine

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