In pursuit of glory and new sports records, athletes and their coaches are ready to do anything. That's probably why sports world Scandals related to doping are increasingly agitating. Sometimes the use of illegal drugs is justified, but what is more important – world fame or human life?
Doping – what is it?
Literally, the term “doping” (from the English dope) means dope or drugs. In professional sports, doping refers to substances of natural or synthetic origin that increase the endurance and performance of athletes during training and sports competitions. Depending on the mechanism of action, drugs are prescribed once or systematically used over a long period of time. The main purpose of using doping drugs is to artificially increase the endurance and physical activity of athletes, which allows them to improve athletic performance.
A little history
Officially, the first case of doping was registered in 1865. The pioneers were Dutch swimmers, in whose blood psychostimulants were discovered - codeine and strychnine. But these were isolated cases. Everything changed in 1935, when German specialists created a synthetic analogue of testosterone. As a result, the Germans won almost all the medals at the 1936 Olympics. A similar situation repeated itself at the 1956 Olympics, where Soviet athletes won. But similar drugs helped not only to win competitions, but also often led to death.
At first there was no fight against doping. But the 1960 Olympics changed everything. The death of the Danish athlete Kurt Jensen during a cycling tour (phenamine was found in his blood) became the reason for the creation of the Anti-Doping Committee and the beginning of vigilant testing of athletes for doping.
What substances are classified as prohibited drugs?
There are 11 thousand prohibited substances on the WADA stop list. These include psychostimulants, psychotropic and narcotic substances, hormonal drugs, and alcohol. The following groups of drugs most often appear in doping scandals:
Synthetic adrenaline derivatives (amphetamine and ephedrine)
These are potent psychostimulants. By quickly acting on the central nervous system, they suppress drowsiness and reduce fatigue. Athletes taking psychostimulants feel a surge of strength, vigor and an endless flow of energy. At one time, Diego Maradona and track and field athlete Lewis Carol were caught taking ephidrine (1994).
Anabolics (piece analogues of testosterone)
Promote rapid growth muscle mass, strengthening bone tissue and increasing the physical strength of athletes. They are used more often by bodybuilders and athletes who engage in weightlifting and athletics. Ben Johnson was disqualified from the Seoul Olympics due to steroid use.
Erythropoietins
Group hormonal drugs, promoting an increase in red blood cells in the blood. Due to them, the body receives a lot of oxygen, which increases its performance and endurance. Used in cycling, cross-country skiing, biathlon and swimming.
Diuretics (diuretics)
Designed to remove excess fluid from the body. This not only makes the athletes’ muscles more prominent, but also helps to mask the traces of the use of other doping agents, because they are excreted along with urine.
At the end of a working day or a busy week, each of us at least once in our lives said (or thought): “I need doping!” We know that doping is bad, we know that doping is effective. But few of us know what it is and why this concept is not applicable in a “everyday” context.
Translated from English, “dope” means “to give away drugs,” respectively, “Doping” is the process during which a person receives and uses them. This term is used exclusively in sports, when an athlete takes substances of natural or synthetic origin (not just drugs) that stimulate and expand physical potential and help achieve the best sports results.
Such substances provide a short-term effect in which the nervous system is excited and the activity of the neuroendocrine system and muscles increases. Doping promotes an artificial increase in working capacity and eliminates fatigue, as a result of which such drugs were included in a number of prohibited drugs for use by athletes. Sports officials exercise control over doping fraud, but the number of doping scandals and failures remains at a high level. There is an opinion that without prohibited stimulants, setting sports records is simply impossible.
Sometimes such incidents are created deliberately - the medications that the athlete takes contain a number of prohibited substances, but there is no mention of this in the official composition on the packaging. Thus, athletes become hostages of a situation in which, while being treated for personal illnesses (even a runny nose), they become violators of the sports order.
The first doping victims appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century in the United States. Back then, riders used prohibited methods to increase their physical potential before competitions. In 1903, the phenomenon received wide media coverage. In 1913, violator Frank Starr was caught for the first time. A bottle of tincture was found in his possession, which was mixed into the horse's food to increase its agility. The rider was suspended from competition and permanently deprived of the right to ride.
For a long time, the disclosure of doping violations remained a problematic task, and the next time the world remembered this again was in 1960 at the Rome Olympics. The tragedy occurred during a bicycle race. That day was especially hot, athletes fell from their bicycles, lost consciousness, and deaths were recorded. During the investigation, a prohibited stimulant was found in the blood of the dead cyclists.
Today, doping control stations exist in all sports areas. Doping control of competition participants is carried out each time before the start of the competition. The problem, unfortunately, extends to all sports: from doping to athletics to skiing. If traces of prohibited substances are found in an athlete’s blood, he faces the first “warning” disqualification for a period of 2 years. If the incident is repeated, he may be suspended from competition forever.
The practice of using drugs is also present during regular training; many coaches encourage it, because the workload of athletes is colossal.
There are several varieties (classes) of prohibited medicines:
- Stimulants - increase physical activity, concentration, reduce the feeling of fatigue.
- Narcotic analgesics are a type of powerful anesthetic.
- Anabolic steroids are natural or artificial drugs, the effect of which is similar in nature to the manifestation of the male hormone testosterone (increases aggression, enhances the desire to win and “competitive feelings”).
- Diuretics are drugs that remove water from the body to rapid decline mass or removal of other “secret” drugs.
- Peptide hormones are substances that provoke the body to develop and control certain functions (increase in growth, number blood cells etc.) They allow you to quickly recover after competitions and training.
We are accustomed to viewing the problem of doping as an issue of “fairness” and the authenticity of the results achieved by athletes. However, this is a moral problem, because prohibited substances have a very detrimental effect on the health of record holders, and sometimes pose a threat to their lives.
The issue of doping is one of the most curious in modern sports. Everyone wants to know if there is a magic pill that will help you become fast, strong or agile, or better yet, all together and repeatedly.
We invited a member of the medical staff of the Sochi 2014 Olympic team, sports doctor Andrei Litvinenko, as an expert. Just recently, Andrei, at a lecture at the I Love Running school of proper running, spent several hours talking in detail about what doping is, how it works, what it gives and what it takes away. And we carefully noted down the most important points.
What is doping?
Doping is a drug that can significantly improve athletic performance and is included in a special list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). As a rule, their use is accompanied by unpleasant side effects and can cause serious harm to health. True, there are exceptions, such as substances that are harmless and do not affect achievements, which mask potent drugs. Some procedures, such as blood transfusions, are also prohibited.
Why and when did doping begin to be banned?
Additional recharging was used back in Ancient Greece- there athletes drank stimulating tinctures from raw mushrooms. IN late XIX centuries when they were reborn Olympic Games, participants experimented on themselves, using various substances, including extremely poisonous ones like strychnine. The first officially recorded death from doping occurred in 1886 with cyclist Arthur Linton, a world record holder and winner of a major race.
The modern era of doping began in the 1930s, when German scientists created injectable testosterone. Initially, it was intended to enhance the aggressiveness of soldiers, but then it was also useful to athletes. Serious problems with doping began after World War II. In the 60s, several cyclists died after traces of potent drugs were found in their blood. After that, they began to fight doping. Not very successful at first: the first tests at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 revealed only one case of use.
But in the 1980s, the methods had already been worked out, after which major scandals followed one after another. In 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was created. Its main tasks are developing a list of prohibited substances and coordinating doping tests, not only during competitions, but also between them. The first punishment is a two-year disqualification, the second is lifelong. The list grows every year, athletes have to carefully monitor the composition of all legal drugs used so that they do not accidentally contain prohibited additives. WADA employees are vested with serious powers. For example, they may arrive unannounced at an athlete’s home or training camp and demand immediate testing.
What types of doping are there, who uses them, why are they useful and harmful?
Stimulants. Increased performance. At the same time, they increase blood pressure, accelerate cardiac activity, and disrupt thermoregulation. Consumption is fraught with heat stroke, addiction, and mental disorders.
Analgesics. Prohibited narcotic analgesics, morphine and its chemical analogues. They affect the central nervous system, increase the pain threshold, as a result of which the athlete is not able to understand how serious his injury is, and can significantly aggravate it. They quickly become addictive and severely dependent. Non-steroidal analgesics are allowed for use.
Beta blockers. Reduce heart rate, calm, reduce tremors. Increase fatigue and impair endurance. Used in sports where precise coordination is needed and there is no serious physical activity, for example in different types shooting or diving.
Diuretics. Diuretics are used to quickly lose weight in order to fit into the desired weight category. Bodybuilders use them to improve muscle definition. Also used before doping control to reduce the concentration of other prohibited drugs in the urine. They cause disturbances in water-electrolyte balance, a drop in blood pressure, and disturbances in the rhythm of the heart.
Erythropoietin. Peptide hormone, notorious for many scandals in cyclic sports. Increases endurance by improving oxygen delivery to muscles. Increases blood pressure, increases blood viscosity, which entails a lot of problems with the cardiovascular system - from thrombosis blood vessels before heart attacks.
Growth hormone. Another peptide hormone. Causes muscle growth, reduces fat, accelerates wound healing, strengthens the immune system. Consumption is fraught with accelerated bone growth and increased height in young people. Increases blood glucose levels with all the ensuing unpleasant consequences.
Insulin. Used in strength sports due to its pronounced anabolic and anti-catabolic effect. The main side effect is hypoglycemic coma, loss of consciousness due to a decrease in blood glucose concentration, requiring immediate intervention from outsiders.
Anabolic steroid. The most famous group of drugs are synthetic derivatives of the male sex hormone testosterone. Used in a wide variety of sports, especially strength sports. They have two inseparable effects: anabolic and androgenic. Among the positive effects: growth of muscle mass up to 5-10 kilograms per month, increase in strength, endurance, productivity, strengthening of bone tissue, reduction of fat reserves, increased libido. Negative “side effects” can be very diverse and very strong.
Sometimes they are general, sometimes they vary depending on the drug. During the course of treatment, the so-called “steroid rage” is observed, that is, increased irritability up to fights and murders. Acne appears on the body, the body retains fluid, so a person “on the course” can be recognized by characteristic swelling. Cholesterol levels increase, which is fraught with atherosclerosis. The myocardium hypertrophies with the subsequent development of ischemia. Some drugs cause liver damage, others cause gynecomastia, that is, the growth of male breasts in a female pattern. Women begin to develop according to the male type, their voices become rougher, their facial features and figure change, and hair grows on their body and face.
But this is all theory, are there any practical examples?
A textbook story of shot putter from the GDR, Heidi Krieger, now called Andreas. After many years of using hormonal drugs, including anabolic steroids, she actually lost her female sexual characteristics and was forced to undergo sex reassignment surgery.
Doping– these are medications that are used by athletes to artificially, forcibly increase performance during the educational and training process and competitive activity. Depending on the type of sport, they can have completely different and even opposite pharmacological actions: from psychostimulant to tranquilizing, from diuretic to cardiotropic effects. Therefore, it is incorrect to call dopings stimulants. They are prescribed once or in a course, depending on the objectives and mechanism of action. medicinal substances. So, no one would think of using anabolic steroid once, and psychostimulants - in a course.
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Judging by the publications and conclusions of the IOC MC, doping have been and are being used in all countries. The reason for this is the exorbitant desire to achieve prizes in competitions and the mercantile interests of athletes and coaches, sports organizations, and entire countries. Over the past ten years, there has been publications on this topic large number articles and books (especially in the USA) that describe practical application doping in sports. They have been translated into many languages, including Russian: see Reference material on doping: permitted and prohibited substances...
It can be stated that the reception doping causes numerous complications in athletes, up to deaths. For this reason, and also because all athletes must be in the same conditions, the IOC MC has banned the use of a number of pharmacological drugs during training and competitions. Some believe that this is a violation of human rights, and every athlete is free to prepare as he wants, with doping or without them. In this case, the result of the competition will depend on which country comes up with a more powerful doping or rational application scheme known drugs, and pharmacologists, not athletes, will compete in stadiums.
Regarding the definition of the concept doping There is still no consensus, and this is extremely important to clarify, since the application doping may result in sanctions, appeals and litigation. Therefore, we can give the following definition, reflecting the essence of this phenomenon: “Doping is a biologically active substance, methods and methods of artificially increasing athletic performance, which have side effects on the body and for which there are special detection methods.” Yes, bloody doping is not a medicine. It is taken from the athlete in advance, processed various methods blood (UV radiation and others), and then, before the competition, administered to him (blood, plasma or red blood cells) to increase its quantity, oxygen transport function and nonspecific stimulation due to the disintegrated red and white blood cells. In addition, other manipulations are carried out to create non-traditional dosage forms and methods of drug administration.
For example, US practitioners and trainers have developed specialized methods of administering anabolic steroids: “dog tracks in the snow”, combination, fusion, rapid switching, cyclicity, dosage reduction scheme, dosage increase scheme, plateau, steroid surge, which reflects the features of the combined and long-term use of these prohibited drugs so as to achieve maximum effect and not be caught by the service doping examination.
ABOUT doping Thousands of pages have been written, while there is still not a single book that discusses issues of ideology, how one can use non-prohibited, harmless drugs of plant and animal origin.
In our country doping the examination is carried out in anti-doping VNIIFK laboratory (head of the laboratory, candidate of biological sciences V.A. Semenov, pharmacist), which is equipped with the latest high-resolution instruments and qualified specialists.
The development of biologically active substances of plant nature in combination with products of increased biological value of a non-doping structure is occupied by the Department of Biologically Active Substances of VNIIFK, which for 18 years was headed by the author of these lines, a pharmacologist who has repeatedly lectured on this topic in Russia and abroad.
TO doping include all psychostimulants, respiratory analeptics, adrenomimetics, MAO inhibitors, cholinomimetics, anticholinesterase drugs, antidepressants, narcotic analgesics, cardiac glycosides, testosterone and anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, peptide hormones – STH, ACTH, gonadotropins, erythropoietin and others. In addition, beta blockers, sodium hydroxybutyrate, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, marijuana, hashish and alcohol are prohibited in all types of shooting, and to eliminate camouflage steroids, their accelerated elimination and water are diuretics. All groups of drugs in the list of prohibited drugs have the addition: “and other related compounds.” This means that the unknown can also be discovered doping how about chemical structure, and on pharmacological action.
Since testosterone is an endogenous substance, it is customary to calculate the ratio of testosterone (T) to epitestosterone (E), which should not exceed 6:1. If it is greater, then it is considered that the athlete administered exogenous testosterone. However, testosterone levels can fluctuate widely in the body, both physiologically and pathological conditions. For example, in cases of decreased excretion of epitestosterone into the blood during a tumor process, functional deficiency of metabolizing enzymes. If T/E is more than six, additional studies are carried out within three months, and information about previous studies is also collected. In addition, the masking agents epitestosterone and probenecid, which make urine tests difficult to interpret, are prohibited.
In the practical use of the listed groups of drugs that artificially increase human performance in military, aerospace (except for sports) medicine, moderation in their dosages should be observed, which almost never happens when their use in sports is prohibited. This leads to severe complications, sometimes ending in death. Detailed analysis side effects doping carried out by us in the book “The Doping Monster”.
One more important issue that a sports doctor encounters in his daily activities is the differentiation of combination drugs that contain doping components, and those that are safe. In various countries, including Russia, there have been cases when doctors prescribed pharmacological preparations containing doping (ephedrine, anabolic steroid, amphetamines, diuretics and others).
On the other hand, attempts were made to hide the deliberate technique doping, with the aim of forcibly increasing the performance of athletes, allegedly ignorant of the fact that nasal drops or intra-articular injections are not doping. However, ignorance of this issue does not excuse one from liability in the event of prohibited drugs being detected in a biosample. It is very difficult to prove to the IOC MC that there was an error and not an intentional act. Therefore, it is better to consult with specialists in advance, since everything that is prescribed to an athlete orally or parenterally (including specialized nutrition, biologically active food supplements, vitamin complexes, geriatric medications) must have anti-doping certificate. This is not at all an unnecessary measure, since provocations from sports competitors have become more frequent, adding doping to food and drinks in order to exclude a strong athlete from the fight.
Sports and doping
All types physical activity They are divided according to the intensity of the loads into very high, high, medium and low intensity. This corresponds to the level of sports qualifications of top-class athletes (Olympic champions and world champions), international masters of sports, masters of sports, dischargers, persons involved in physical culture who are not involved in physical education and are involved in physical therapy for the purpose of rehabilitation of certain functions with the help of a given physical activity. Naturally, the requirements for these individuals, their preparedness, nutrition and pharmacological support will be completely different. However, they all have limits to their capabilities that limit a person’s physical performance.
It should be borne in mind that these factors limiting performance depend on the type of physical activity, which can be divided in accordance with the classifications of sports into five main groups:
1. Cyclic sports with a predominant manifestation of endurance (running, swimming, cross-country skiing, speed skating, all types of rowing, cycling and others), when the same movement is repeated many times, a large amount of energy is consumed, and the work itself is performed with high and very high intensity . These sports require metabolic support and specialized nutrition, especially during marathon distances, when energy sources switch from carbohydrates (macroergic phosphates, glycogen, glucose) to fat. Control of the hormonal system of these types of metabolism is essential both in predicting and in correcting performance with pharmacological drugs.
2. Speed-strength events, when the main quality is the manifestation of explosive, short-term and very intense physical activity (all sprint distances, throwing, weightlifting and others). In most cases, these traits depend on genetic determinants, and the sources of energy to ensure such activity are fundamentally different when endurance is demonstrated. Natural sprinters have a higher percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers compared to distance runners. Speed is a very demonstrative indicator, which undergoes the earliest and most pronounced decline with increasing age compared to strength and endurance. An increase in body weight in all throwers and weightlifters requires special control over specialized nutrition and a shift from the catabolic to the anabolic phase of metabolism without the use of anabolic steroids and somatotropin. For sprinters, uncontrolled weight gain is unacceptable. Carbohydrate metabolism and energy sources predominate: macroergic.
3. Martial arts represent very numerous types of sports activities (all types of wrestling, boxing and others). Characteristic feature energy expenditure during martial arts is an unstable, cyclical level physical activity, depending on the specific conditions of the struggle, although sometimes they reach very high intensity. The type of physical activity, its duration and intensity are the basis for the selection of pharmacological drugs. These sports, in most cases, are quite traumatic, which can cause microcirculation disorders and metabolic processes in the brain, therefore nootropic drugs should be used as protectors.
4. Game types characterized by constant alternation of intense muscle activity and rest, when athletes are not directly involved in game episodes. Coordination of movements and mental stability are of great importance. The tasks of pharmacological support are related to the correction of recovery processes, energy compensation, improvement of metabolic processes in the brain with the help of vitamin complexes, nootropics, adaptogens of plant and animal origin, as well as antioxidants.
5. Complexly coordinated species are based on the finest elements of movement, as is the case in figure skating, gymnastics, diving, shooting, where excellent endurance and attention are required. Physical activity varies widely. For example, to make a difficult jump you need enormous explosive force, while shooting requires concentration and reduction of tremors. It is of great importance to increase mental stability with herbal preparations with a calming effect (valerian, hawthorn without alcohol components), nootropics, vitamin complexes, energy-rich foods.
Complex technical types are largely associated with the use technical means(auto racing, bobsleigh, parachuting, sailing and many others). The level of physical activity may not reach very high values, but nervous tension is at the limit of human capabilities, which determines the principles of pharmacological correction - increasing mental stability.
In addition to this, there are a number mixed species sports where they are used various types all-around events, including the listed types of human physical activity. Naturally, the tasks of pharmacological support differ significantly and fundamentally. It should be added that many problems arise with restoring and maintaining a high intellectual level in chess competitions as a sport.
So, sports activities include almost all types physical performance both dynamic and static. Next, we will consider pharmacological drugs that affect endurance, speed, strength, coordination, taking into account the intensity of physical activity.
Over the past 15 years, it has been found that, depending on the types of sports in different countries, the following dopings are used (Table 1).
Table 1 Use of doping agents in related sports |
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Related sports | Complications |
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1. Speed-strength types: weightlifting, throwing, bodybuilding, sprint distances in athletics, swimming, speed skating, cross-country skiing. | Anabolic steroids, somatotropin, gonadotropin, amphetamines, diuretics, etc. | Drastic changes: metabolism, hormonal profile, masculinization in women and virilization in men. |
2. Sports with a predominant manifestation of endurance, cyclic sports: running, swimming, cross-country skiing, cycling, speed skating (long distances). | Anabolic steroids, somatotropin, gonadotropin, blood doping, psychostimulants, etc. | Loss of orientation and consciousness, deaths, hormonal imbalances, etc. |
3. Game types: football, basketball, rugby, baseball, bandy and ice hockey, golf, etc. | Alcohol, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, marijuana, etc. | Deaths, loss of consciousness, toxic effects. |
4. Sports with complex coordination: high jumping, diving, figure skating, gymnastics, fencing, etc. | Alcohol, narcotic analgesics, tranquilizers, beta blockers, etc. | Drug addiction, alcoholism, etc. |
5. Martial arts: all types of wrestling, boxing, martial arts, etc. | Narcotic analgesics, marijuana, alcohol. | Drug dependence, drug addiction, etc. |
In equestrian sports, various doping agents are used depending on specific tasks (psychostimulants, tranquilizers and other drugs), therefore doping control of horses is carried out.
Doping control
Doping control is the most important component of a comprehensive program of measures aimed at preventing athletes from using prohibited (doping) substances.
The regulations adopted in our country for organizing and conducting the doping control procedure fully comply with the requirements Medical commission IOC. The doping control procedure consists of the following stages: selection of biological samples for analysis, physical and chemical examination of the selected samples and drawing up a conclusion, imposition of sanctions on violators.
During competition, the athlete receives notification that, according to the rules, he must undergo doping control. The winners who took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, as well as, by decision of the commission, one of the several athletes who did not take prizes (they are selected by lot) undergo mandatory doping control. After the performance, these athletes are sent to the doping control room. Here the athlete himself chooses a container to collect a urine sample for analysis. Then, in the presence of an observer, a urine sample is taken. (The observer ensures that there is no tampering with the sample.) After taking the sample, a number is stuck on the vessel, which is also chosen by the athlete himself. After this, the resulting biological sample is divided into two equal parts - samples A and B, which are sealed and assigned a specific code.
Thus, the athlete’s name is not mentioned at any of the working stages (to maintain complete anonymity). Copies of the codes are pasted on the doping control report. The samples are then packed into shipping containers and taken to the doping control laboratory. Before signing the doping control protocol, the athlete must inform the commission of the names of all medications that he took before the competition (as some medications contain prohibited substances in minimal quantities, for example, solutan). After signing the doping control protocol, the athlete can only wait for the test results. According to the doping control regulations, sample A is analyzed, no later than 3 days after taking the biological sample.
If prohibited drugs are found in it, sample B is opened and analyzed. When opening sample B, either the athlete himself or his authorized representative can be present. If Prohibited Substances are also detected in Sample B, the Athlete will be subject to appropriate sanctions. If a prohibited drug is not detected in sample B, then the conclusion from the analysis of biosample A is considered unreliable and sanctions are not applied to the athlete. An athlete’s refusal to undergo doping control or an attempt to falsify its result is considered as an admission of the fact of doping use with all the ensuing consequences.
Falsification of doping control results involves various kinds of manipulations aimed at distorting its results. Athletes can resort to attempts at falsification when they are obviously confident in the positive result of a biological test for doping. In this case, attempts to change urine (catheterization and introduction into bladder foreign urine, known to be free from prohibited drugs, or liquid simulating urine; use of microcontainers; deliberate contamination of urine with aromatic compounds that complicate the identification of doping substances).
Prohibited manipulations also include special surgical operations(for example, suturing placental tissue under the skin). The physicochemical methods of analyzing biological urine samples used to determine doping (chromatographic, mass spectrometric, radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, etc.) are very sensitive and include computer identification of doping drugs and their derivatives. They make it possible to determine with high accuracy all the drugs used by the athlete, including those used over the past weeks and even months. In addition, methods have been developed that determine the so-called “blood doping”, i.e. transfusion of an athlete's own or someone else's blood before the start.
If previously only highly qualified athletes underwent doping control and only during important international and domestic competitions, now such control is carried out not only during the competitive period, but also during training sessions, and all persons involved in sports are subject to doping testing, regardless of their sports accessories.
Sanctions for athletes caught doping
Detection of doping threatens the athlete with severe penalties, including complete exclusion from the sport. When prohibited drugs are detected for the first time (with the exception of sympathomimetic drugs such as ephedrine and its derivatives), he is disqualified for 2 years, if repeated - for life. If you take sympathomimetics for the first time, you will be disqualified for 6 months, the second time for 2 years, and the third time for life. In this case, the coach and doctor who observed the athlete are also subject to punishment.
The use of any substances officially classified as narcotic drugs as doping entails appropriate administrative and criminal penalties. Currently, proposals have been made to the country's legislative bodies to introduce criminal penalties for taking anabolic steroids without medical indications, or inducing them to take them.
Problem The issue of doping is the scourge of modern sports. Thus, recently traces of the drug erythropoietin were found in the blood of Russian biathletes Yuryeva and Starykh, which increases the hemoglobin content in the blood, improving many physical indicators.
AiF.ru found out what doping is, why athletes use it, who and how fights doping, and what the athlete faces for using the substance?
What is doping?
Doping is any substance of natural or synthetic origin, the use of which allows one to achieve improved athletic performance. Such substances can dramatically increase the activity of the nervous and endocrine systems for a short time, as well as increase muscle strength. Doping includes drugs that stimulate the synthesis of muscle proteins after exposure to muscle loads.
Who tests athletes for doping?
A huge number of medications have the status of prohibited for athletes during competitions. The modern concept in the field of combating doping in elite sports is given in the Anti-Doping Code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
At the international level, the use of prohibited substances by athletes is controlled by WADA. In addition, each country has national anti-doping agencies that operate in domestic competitions, thereby minimizing the number of international scandals. In Russia, RusADA does this.
How are athletes tested for doping?
Representatives of WADA and RusADA can ask an athlete to take doping tests at any time, even when they are on vacation. From the moment of analysis, samples are stored in the laboratory for ten years. Data can be rechecked at any time. This is done so that the doping detection technology, which is constantly one step behind its production, can reveal the fact of manipulation after the end of the competition. This means restoring justice after the fact, taking away the award won by dishonest means, and giving victory to the “clean” athlete.
The sample taken from the athlete is divided into two parts. Initially, one part is opened, which is called sample A. If it shows negative result, no further action is required. If sample A turns out to be positive, the athlete is suspended from all competitions until sample B is analyzed. If the latter turns out to be positive, a special commission imposes certain sanctions on the doping athlete.
How is an athlete punished for doping?
In the case of intentional doping, a penalty of up to two years of suspension from all competitions may follow. If the use of performance-enhancing drugs is associated with aggravating circumstances (repeated use, combination with other prohibited substances), the athlete's period of ineligibility can be increased up to life.
Which athletes have been caught doping?
In January 2014, it became known that doping tests A of two Russian athletes, Irina Starykh And Ekaterina Yuryeva, gave a positive result. Erythropoietin was detected in their blood. Irina Starykh faces a two-year disqualification, and Ekaterina Yuryeva, for whom this is a repeated puncture, faces a lifelong ban from the sport.
On December 2, 2008, it became known that doping tests of three leading Russian biathletes gave a positive result. Erythropoietin was also found in the blood. The violators were Ekaterina Yuryeva (it was she who was caught doping again this year), Albina Akhatova And Dmitry Yaroshenko. All athletes were disqualified for two years.
In the summer of 2012, the legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong was found guilty of doping - erythropoietin, which was found in his tests in 1999. The athlete was stripped of all the titles he had won since 1998, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold.
In November 2009, after information appeared in the media about the discovery of erythropoietin in the blood of Russian skiers Yulia Chepalova, the athlete announced her retirement and criticized not only the leadership of WADA, but also the president of the Russian Olympic Committee. Together with Chepalova, two more Russian skiers were disqualified for the same violation: Evgeniy Dementyev and Nina Rysina.
In February 2002, at the American Olympics in Salt Lake City, WADA representatives announced the discovery of traces of erythropoietin in the tests five-time Olympic champion Larisa Lazutina- Russian skier. The athlete was deprived of her last awards (one gold and two silver) and disqualified for two years. The incident occurred right before the start of the women's relay race, in which Lazutina was supposed to take part.
What is erythropoietin?
Erythropoietin is one of the kidney hormones. It increases systemic blood pressure and also increases blood viscosity by increasing the red blood cell to plasma ratio. At the same time, the hemoglobin content in the blood increases, improving a number of physical indicators of the athlete.
Erythropoietin is used illegally as a doping agent in some sports. Many athletes, coaches and experts believe that erythropoietin is a doping of the last millennium, which is now easy to calculate.