Impact of Performance-Enhancing Substances on Athletes' Short-term and Long-term Health
In the world of athletics, the pursuit of excellence often leads to the exploration of new territories. One such territory is the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), a topic that has gained significant attention in recent years.
Research on PEDs is still in its infancy, and the substances athletes use are new, making it difficult to assess their long-term effects. This complexity is compounded by ethical and health safety criteria, making the study of PEDs a challenging endeavour.
Lance Armstrong, a renowned US cyclist, admitted to using banned substances, including Erythropoietin (EPO), in 2013, shedding light on the prevalence of PED use in sports. Today, events such as the World Aquatics Championships, the Tour de France, and the upcoming UEFA Women's EURO 2025 final are being closely monitored to ensure they remain free from banned substances listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Anabolic Steroids, a common type of PED, is linked to preclinical cardiovascular diseases, mental health issues, organ damage, and mood and behavioural changes. Long-term use of these steroids can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases such as carotid and femoral artery plaques, coronary artery disease, myocardial dysfunction, hypertension, blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Mental health issues associated with chronic steroid use include anxiety, depression, increased aggression, lower self-esteem, cognitive alterations, and muscle dysmorphia. Organ damage, including liver and kidney damage, and hormonal and reproductive system disruptions are also common. Severe mood swings, hallucinations, and delusions have been observed in some users.
EPO, another PED, increases red blood cell production, raising blood viscosity. This poses risks of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and infections in both short and long term. While associated with serious events historically, definitive causal evidence is more limited, with some studies unable to confirm direct effects.
Beta Blockers, normally used for heart conditions, are banned in precision sports like archery and shooting because they help athletes perform more calmly. Side effects include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, constipation, erectile dysfunction, and a possible long-term increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. However, research specifically on sports-related beta blocker abuse is limited.
The use of PEDs carries significant risks that can accumulate or worsen over time, highlighting the severe health consequences of their illicit or unsupervised use in athletic contexts. It is important to note that athletes using PEDs might take more than one banned substance, making it difficult to isolate the health effects of each substance.
Recent incidents such as Jannik Sinner's three-month ban by WADA for testing positive for steroids underscore the importance of adhering to the rules set by organisations like WADA. The use of PEDs not only has the potential to enhance sport performance but also poses a health risk and violates the spirit of sport, making it a topic of ongoing concern in the world of athletics.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3585701/ [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6169904/ [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471699/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5456561/ [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470126/
- The long-term effects of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) used in sports, such as anabolic steroids, are still under research, but they are linked to chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, mental health issues, organ damage, and mood and behavioral changes.
- The use of PEDs in sports, such as Erythropoietin (EPO), increases the risk of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, and infections, potentially causing serious health consequences. However, definitive causal evidence for EPO's direct effects is more limited.
- Beta Blockers, although used to manage medical-conditions like heart conditions, pose health risks when misused in sports, such as fatigue, dizziness, nausea, constipation, and a possible long-term increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Yet, research specifically on sports-related beta blocker abuse is scarce.
