Ergogenic Aids and Blood Doping in Sports

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Questions and Answers

What is a possible side effect of blood doping?

Myocardial infarction (correct)

Decreased blood viscosity

Increased oxygen saturation in blood

Improved endurance capacity

What is the optimal dose of sodium bicarbonate for enhancing exercise performance?

0.5 g kg -1 body weight

0.3 g kg -1 body weight (correct)

0.2 g kg -1 body weight

0.4 g kg -1 body weight

How does supplemental oxygen primarily benefit athletes?

Improves oxygen content in blood (correct)

Enhances lactic acid production

Increases blood viscosity

Increases muscle glycogen storage

What effect does breathing 100% oxygen have on running to exhaustion?

No effect on performance Signup and view all the answers

Which substance helps buffer H+ ions during high-intensity exercise?

Sodium bicarbonate Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of an ergogenic aid?

A substance that directly improves physiological variables associated with exercise or removes subjective restraints. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary effect of nitrates in the body?

Vasodilation of arterial smooth muscle Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the criteria for a substance to be included on the doping list according to WADA?

Is safe for all athletes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common side effect of sodium bicarbonate supplementation?

Diarrhea Signup and view all the answers

Why is a placebo treatment used in research studies involving ergogenic aids in a double-blind design?

It ensures that neither the participant nor the researcher knows who is receiving the treatment. Signup and view all the answers

At rest, how saturated is hemoglobin with oxygen?

97% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following ergogenic aids is primarily associated with improving oxygen transport in the body?

Erythropoietin (EPO). Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the substances that ancient athletes used as an ergogenic aid?

Hallucinogenic mushrooms. Signup and view all the answers

Which ergogenic aid is commonly associated with reducing fatigue during high-intensity exercise?

Caffeine. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of doping violations that affected the Olympics in 2016 and 2018?

Russia was banned from both the 2016 Rio and 2018 Winter Olympics. Signup and view all the answers

Which ergogenic aid is primarily used for its potential to buffer lactic acid during exercise?

Sodium bicarbonate. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following mechanical aids is specifically used to develop speed?

Parachutes Signup and view all the answers

What is a common purpose of using nasal strips in training?

To improve oxygen uptake Signup and view all the answers

Which pharmacological aid is primarily used for its stimulant properties?

Caffeine Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological aid can help athletes focus and reduce anxiety?

Imagery Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of timing equipment in athletic training?

Measure performance time Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of blood doping in athletic performance?

To increase blood's ability to transport oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What is a major factor that complicates scientific studies on ergogenic aids?

The placebo effect Signup and view all the answers

What procedure is commonly used in autologous blood doping?

Reinfusion of previously stored RBCs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following substances is more difficult to detect than traditional blood doping methods?

Erythropoietin (EPO) Signup and view all the answers

Why might a control group be important in research studies on ergogenic aids?

To compare results against those not using the aids Signup and view all the answers

In the context of blood doping, what does 'homologous transfusion' refer to?

Transfusion of blood from a different individual Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT important when conducting research on ergogenic aids?

The cost of the ergogenic aid Signup and view all the answers

What is the psychological origin of the body's response known as the placebo effect?

Expectation of a substance's effectiveness Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of caffeine in skeletal muscle during exercise?

Increases calcium availability Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential side effect of high caffeine consumption?

Diarrhoea Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism describes the transformation of nitrate to nitric oxide?

NO3− → NO2− → NO Signup and view all the answers

What dosage of creatine is typically recommended for maintenance after loading?

2–5 g/day Signup and view all the answers

What primary effect does caffeine have on the central nervous system?

Increases alertness and decreases drowsiness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following substances is classified as an anabolic steroid?

Testosterone Signup and view all the answers

At what dosage is caffeine generally associated with improved endurance performance?

3-9 mg/kg Signup and view all the answers

What is a common mechanism of action for creatine supplementation?

Increases muscle phosphocreatine levels Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is NOT a side effect of anabolic steroids?

Muscle wastage Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the ATP-phosphocreatine system during exercise?

To provide immediate energy for short-term, explosive exercise Signup and view all the answers

In which year was caffeine first banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)?

1962 Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of performance can creatine supplementation improve?

Maintaining force and power output Signup and view all the answers

What effect does caffeine have on fatty acid availability in the body?

Increases free fatty acid availability Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ergogenic Aids

An ergogenic aid improves sports performance by directly impacting physiological performance or removing subjective restraints that hinder performance.
Ergogenic aids can be classified as physical, mechanical, nutritional, psychological, or pharmacological.
Research on ergogenic aids is difficult due to the placebo effect, which requires double blind and randomized control groups.
Factors that influence the effects of ergogenic aids include dosage, individual demographics, exercise task, and frequency of use.

Blood Doping

Blood doping artificially increases the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, improving VO2 max and endurance performance.
Autologous blood doping involves withdrawing blood 4-8 weeks before competition, storing red blood cells, and reinfusing them a week before an event.
Erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates red blood cell production, making it difficult to detect compared to traditional blood doping.
Blood doping can lead to increased blood viscosity, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, and infection risks.

Supplemental Oxygen

Supplementation provides minimal additional oxygen to the blood, with a practical advantage only at high altitude.
Research suggests little to no benefit for exercise performance at sea level.
Supplemental oxygen has no known serious health risks.

Sodium Bicarbonate

Enhances buffering capacity during exercise, improving performance in short-duration, high-intensity activities or repeated bouts of exercise.
It has no benefit for tasks under one minute.
The optimal dose is 0.3 g/kg body weight with one liter of water.
Side effects include diarrhoea and vomiting.

Caffeine

Acts as a CNS stimulant, increasing catecholamines.
Improves endurance performance at doses of 3-9 mg/kg.
It is banned in large doses and via injections or suppositories.
Mechanism of action includes increased calcium availability in fatigued muscles, increased tension development, increased alertness, and decreased drowsiness.
Caffeine increases cAMP, leading to increased free fatty acid availability and increased calcium release.
Benefits include increased plasma FFA and triglyceride use, glycogen sparing, and decreased perception of effort.
Potential side effects include insomnia, diarrhoea, anxiety, irritability, and a diuretic effect.

Creatine

Creatine supplementation increases muscle phosphocreatine, which improves short-term explosive exercise by supporting the ATP-PCr system.
Loading doses are 20-25 g/day, followed by a maintenance dose of 2-5 g/day.
It improves force and power output and increases muscle mass.
Potential side effects are minimal but no long-term adverse effects have been reported.

Anabolic Steroids

Synthetic forms of male sex hormones that maximize anabolic effects.
Increase muscle mass and strength.
Potential side effects include testicular atrophy, reduced sperm count, prostate and breast enlargement in men, menstrual disruption and masculinisation in women, personality changes, liver damage, and cardiovascular disease.

Factors Affecting Performance

This section discusses various factors influencing performance but does not provide details for each factor.

Innovation

This section encourages the development of new performance-enhancing aids, targeting physiological pathways or systems to improve performance.

Mechanical Aids

This section lists various mechanical aids used to enhance performance, including altitude training, aqua training, heart rate monitors, and computers for performance analysis.

Pharmacological Aids

This section provides a list of pharmacological aids, including amphetamines, anabolic steroids, beta-blockers, creatine monohydrate, and caffeine.

Psychological Aids

This section provides a list of psychological aids, including centering, cheering, hypnosis, imagery, meditation, music, relaxation, and tai chi.

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Description

Explore the concepts of ergogenic aids and blood doping that enhance sports performance. This quiz covers classifications, mechanisms, and the implications of these practices in athletics. Test your knowledge on the physiological and ethical aspects involved.