Drugs have become a hot-spot in the world of modern sports. Compared to amphetamines and anabolic steroids, blood doping is sometimes not included in the other performance-enhancing illegal drug categories. There is much debate over whether blood doping, using one's own blood, should be considered a "drug." Many view doping as an unfair means of achieving that "competitive edge" in performance, while others see it as a natural use of the body. There are also drugs available, such as erythropoietin, which produce similar results to doping. There are medical tests involved, and much has been done to increase the athletic competition testing of blood doping in athletes. However, this procedure is difficult to detect and continues to present major dilemmas to the sporting community and society as a whole as to the nature of defining an unfair advantage in sports.
Inside
the USOC (http://www.olympic-usa.org/inside/in_1_3_7_6.html)
This source presents a general overview of the practice
of blood doping and its results. It gives introductory information
on the procedures and methods used by many athletes.
Scientists
report breakthrough in fight against doping
(http://pele.nando.net/newsroom/ap/oth/1996/oth/oly/feat/archive/031296/oly73864.html)
scientists discover a new way to test for blood doping,
by detecting erythropoietin (EPO) in the athlete's bloodstream. The
article also indicates the past problems with trying to screen for performance-enhancing
drugs.
Using
chemistry to get the gold
(http://www.thriveonline.com/@@e4YIKwYA2zrm7fiq/thrive/health/Library/CAD/abstract10011.html)
This source presents the dilemma of drug use with the
Olympic games, the issue of cheating, and that testing for drugs at the
competitive level is never close to being totally accurate.
The IOC Medical Commission
and the fight against doping
(http://www.olympic.org/fedop.html)
The International Olympic Medical Commission was the
first of its kind to be created to study the issue of blood doping and
emphasizes the fact that doping is considered cheating.
Whitehead
finds answer to old puzzle
(http://web.mit.edu:1962/tiserve.mit.edu/9000/40125.html)
Laboratories at Whitehead Institute discovered a genetic
mutation that can cause higher-than-normal number of red blood cells.
This mutation was first seen in Finnish cross-country skier, Eero Maentryanta,
in the 1964 Winter Olympics; he was accused of blood doping.
EndurePlus
(http://www.ilap.com/endureplus/epo.html)
Endurance athletes are resorting to the growth hormone
erythropoietin to give them a greater number of red blood cells and oxygen-carrying
capacity. The use of the chemical EPO has stemmed from past use of
blood doping and its effects.
Effects
of blood doping and Gamow's High Altitude Bed
(http://spot.colorado.edu/~gamow/research/doping.html)
This source presents the ways in which hemoglobin may
be increased in the human body for performance-enhancement, including a
table on the blood concentration differences.
Killer
drug should be tackled now, says expert
(http://www4.nando.net/newsroom/sports/oth/1996/oth/mor/feat/archive/031296/mor44236.html)
The drug EPO, which produces similar results in athletes
as the blood doping technique, has been suspected of causing death due
to the damage it does to the circulatory system.
International
Paralympic Committee: Penalties for Doping Infractions
(http://info.lut.ac.uk/research/paad/ipc/handbook/sec2ch08_2.html)
'Penalties for Doping Infractions' describes the terms
of blood doping and the response to being caught for drug use in sports.
Return to class readings page: Kinesiology 493: Philosophy of Kinesiology