What performance-enhancing drugs Armstrong took and Danger of these Drugs

What performance-enhancing drugs Armstrong took and Danger of these Drugs

As we all know that that he took those drugs to win all those titles. He admitted unequivocally to using performance-enhancing drugs in his seven Tour de France wins. But his critics say he is still spinning the story. Armstrong has, in the past, persistently and angrily denied the allegations -- even under oath. And he has persecuted former close associates who went public against him. "We sued so many people," Armstrong told Winfrey -- people who were telling the truth.

He admitted that he used following performance-enhancing drugs:

Blood-enhancing hormone EPO

 Testosterone

Cortisone

Human growth hormone

 Illegal blood transfusions

And other blood doping

Armstrong answered "yes" on all counts in the first installment of a two-part interview that aired Thursday night. The disgraced cyclist, who has been stripped of his Tour de France titles and an Olympic bronze medal, blamed no one but himself for his doping decisions, careful not to implicate others.

 

What is Blood-enhancing hormone EPO (erythropoietin)?

EPO is a chemical form of blood doping that first came about in the late 1980s allowing aerobic potential to be increased by increasing the blood’s oxygen transfer capacity. Its misuse in the professional ranks arrived soon after it was used on the patients it was designed for. EPO artificially boosted the body’s red blood cell count. Boosting an athlete’s red blood cell count (and thus the efficiency with which oxygen is transported around the body) in order to improve performance, is done by injecting erythropoietin – a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates production of red blood cells – and it gives a massive advantage in performance. It was an undectable until a test became available in 2000. The use and abuse of EPO was rampant in professional cycling, according to riders who competed at the time. This is underlined by the amount of cyclists caught using the substance. The greater the amount of red blood cells available, the more oxygen can be carried from the lungs to the muscles.  EPO is typically taken prior to a big training block – out of competition – to ensure that by the time of the competition all traces of the synthetic EPO will have disappeared. It enables the doper to train harder and longer than he would be able to “naturally”. Cheaters can also “micro dope” by staying under the fail limit, as an aid to performance on the event.

Danger of EPO

The obvious danger with EPO is that the body’s capacity to produce red blood cells naturally is compromised, with the athlete ultimately having to rely on injections of the hormone ( for the rest of his life ) .In May 2007, the T-Mobile cycling team suspended two doctors who allegedly supplied EPO to former Tour de France winners Bjarne Riis, Jan Ullrich and other riders on the team (then known as Team Telekom) between 1992 and 1996, more than a decade earlier.
Though EPO is now a prohibited substance in professional cycling, and riders are regularly tested for its presence in their bodies, its use is still a problem.  CERA is the most efficient form of the Drug; the ‘third generation’ EPO was only detectable in drug testing from MAY 2008.

 

What is Blood Doping?

Blood doping is when an athlete illicitly boosts the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in his or her body in order to enhance athletic performance.   An athlete has healthy blood ‘removed’ during periods when the body is at its freshest (e.g. after a period of rest), which blood is stored and transfused ‘back’ into the rider when needed.

The benefit of a transfusion of half a litre of blood can provide the athlete with an additional half litre of oxygen to muscles per minute, at the same time increasing the capacity of the muscles to use oxygen by up to five percent. Autologous blood transfusion (transfusion of your own blood) is not detectable and is perhaps not technically “doping”, but remains a banned technique affording a massive boost to an athlete over fatigued competition.

Health Danger of Blood Doping

Poorly stored blood leads to serious illness and blood clots, and by pushing “thick blood” with high red cell count through the body, massive strain is put on the heart. The main function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen to the muscles, meaning a higher RBC count can dramatically improve an athlete’s performance by kicking up their aerobic capacity and stamina.

Blood doping in the traditional sense involves harvesting red blood cells either from the athlete or compatible donor and then saving them until needed. Red blood cells can be easily frozen and later thawed for use without significant loss of their oxygen-carrying properties. Just prior to a critical competition, these harvested red blood cells are then re-injected into the athlete’s circulatory system.
The major blood doping case in professional cycling is known as Operación Puerto, the case name given by Spanish police. The investigation broke in May 2006 when Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes was accused of helping 200 professional athletes from a number of sports engage in blood doping to enhance their performance. Among these athletes were some of the best known cyclists in the world, including several of the top finishers at the most recent Olympic Games and Tours de France.
As of May 2007, fifteen cyclists whose names surfaced in the Operación Puerto investigation have been acquitted, while three riders — Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso, and Michele Scarponi — have either admitted doping or been seemingly convicted by substantial evidence linking them to the practice.

 

What is Human growth hormone (HGH)?

When the aim is to increase strength and muscular power (to improve technique) protein, natural or synthetic anabolic agents in combination with hyper-protein diets and muscle-building exercises are frequently used. The balance between the increase in muscle mass and the loss of fat mass can be maintained by growth hormones associated with amino acids, drugs with anabolic properties, or with nutritional supplements.

Health Danger of Human growth hormone

Growth hormones stimulate cell growth, aids in muscle mass building and their recovery. Typically it is injected prior to a period of training (to aid muscle development during training), but can be used during competition to speed up recovery from fatigue.  Abuse of HGH leads to thickening of the bones (particularly the jaw bone), swelling of hands and feet and increased organ growth.

HGH is currently not tested for efficiently.

Pharmacological, chemical and physical manipulation: By the use of either substances or particular methods it is possible to hide the presence of banned substances in, or even to alter a urine sample. Most obvious techniques used is to use someone else’s urine for your sample, or by using Epitestosterone, Bromantan, diluted urine, Hemodilution, by reducing kidney tubular secretions or by manipulating the body’s Testosterone/Epitestosterone ratio, simply to beat the test.

What are Steroids (Testosterone)?

 A primary form of cheating that has occurred in professional cycling is found in the use of performance-enhancing drugs, including anabolic steroids. There are various steroids that enhance muscle development and the kidney’s ability to produce natural EPO. Testostorone – being one of them – both accelerates the body’s EPO production ability, and aids in muscle recovery. Natural or man-made compounds that act like testosterone – such as Nandrolone, Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), Stanozolol, Androstenedione, or DHEA – can increase muscle size, strength and power. It also increases aggression and competitiveness, and allows one to train harder, for longer.

Health Danger of Steroids

In males the known side effects are kidney damage, development of breasts, premature baldness, shrinking and hardening of testicles, sterility and impotence, acne, increased aggression and sexual appetite. In females the side effects to subjects have been the development of male features (such as facial hair & a deepening of the voice), cause increased aggression, mood swings, depression, and irregular periods and increase the risk of jaundice and liver damage.

Steroids stay in body for up to six months and are easily detectable in urine.  Anabolic steroids encompass an entire family of drugs related to testosterone, the male hormone, and which stimulate muscle growth in the body. Anabolic steroids may be taken by pill, injection or administered through the skin.
American rider Floyd Landis, who won the 2006 Tour de France, was stripped of his championship a month after the race when the results of a drug test showed higher-than-allowable levels of testosterone as well as the presence of synthetic testosterone in his body.

What is Cortisone?

Cortisone is a steroid hormone. Chemically, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior. Glucocorticoids such as cortisol control carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism and are anti-inflammatory by preventing phospholipid release, decreasing eosinophil action and a number of other mechanisms.Mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone control electrolyte and water levels, mainly by promoting sodium retention in the kidney.

Health Danger of Cortisone

Typical undesired effects of glucocorticoids present quite uniformly as drug-induced Cushing's syndrome. Typical mineralocorticoid side effects are hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure), hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood), hypernatremia (high sodium levels in the blood) without causing peripheral edema, metabolic alkalosis and connective tissue weakness (Werner, 2005). Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that corticosteroids can cause permanent eye damage by inducing central serous retinopathy (CSR, also known as central serous chorioretinopathy, CSC). A variety of steroid medications, from anti-allergy nasal sprays (Nasonex, Flonase) to topical skin creams, to eye drops (Tobradex), to Prednisone have been implicated in the development of CSR.

Health Effects of Steroids, Doping and Performance-Enhancing Drugs (USDA)

This section provides answers to common questions about health and safety risks associated with substances and methods on the WADA Prohibited List. It also provides information concerning the legitimate medical use of substances. When these compounds are misused, it constitutes a breach of ethics both by the user and supplier.

Anabolic Agents (Including Testosterone)

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other muscle-wasting diseases. What are some potential side effects of anabolic steroid abuse? Some physiological and psychological side effects of anabolic steroid abuse have potential to impact any user, while other side effects are gender specific. The following list is not comprehensive.

Physiological

•Acne

•Male pattern baldness

•Liver Damage*

•Premature closure of the growth centers of long bones (in adolescents) which may result in stunted growth*

•Stunted growth and disruption of puberty in children

Psychological

•Increased aggressiveness and sexual appetite, sometimes resulting in abnormal sexual and criminal behavior, often referred to as “Roid Rage”

•Withdrawal from anabolic steroid use can be associated with depression, and in some cases, suicide.

Gender Specific – Males

•Breast tissue development*

•Shrinking of the testicles*

•Impotence

•Reduction in sperm production

Gender Specific – Females

•Deepening of the voice*

•Cessation of breast development

•Growth of hair on the face, stomach and upper back*

•Enlarged clitoris*

•Abnormal menstrual cycles

*Effects may be permanent and can vary by individual.

Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, and Related Substances

The primary medical use of these compounds vary, but include treatment of cancer or aiding those born prematurely. The presence of an abnormal concentration of a hormone, its metabolites, relevant ratios or markers in your sample is deemed to contain a prohibited substance unless you can demonstrate the concentration was due to a physiological or pathological condition. Examples include human growth hormone (hGH), erythropoietin (EPO), insulin, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), and adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH). The intramuscular injection of Platelet-Derived Preparations (such as Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP, and ‘blood spinning') is prohibited, and therefore requires a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Platelet –derived preparations by other routes of administration (such as local injection into a joint, tendon, or ligament) will require only a USADA website Declaration of Use.

beta-2 agonists

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat conditions such as asthma and other respiratory ailments. Some studies have shown beta-2 agonists have performance-enhancing effects when consistently high levels are present in the blood.

Physiological

•Palpitations

•Headaches

•Sweating

•Nausea

•Muscle cramps

•Nervousness

Diuretics

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat conditions such as hypertension, kidney disease and congestive heart failure. Taken without medical supervision, diuretics can result in potassium depletion and possibly even death.

Physiological

•Dehydration

•Muscle cramps

•Dizziness or fainting

•Drop in blood pressure

•Loss of coordination and balance

Stimulants

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD/ADHD), asthma, narcolepsy and obesity.

Physiological

•Insomnia

•Anxiety

•Weight loss

•Dependence and addiction

•Dehydration

•Tremors

•Increased heart rate and blood pressure

•Increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrhythmia

Narcotics

In small doses narcotics have medical uses including relieving severe pain and inducing sleep. However, narcotic overdose is a medical emergency and can lead to respiratory depression and even death.

While a sensation of euphoria and psychological stimulation are effects common to the use of narcotics, misuse of narcotics can pose ethical questions about the handling of the substance and also pose great health risks. Those include:

Physiological

•A false sense of invincibility

•Nausea and vomiting

•Increased pain threshold and failure to recognize injury

•Decreased heart rate

•Physical and psychological dependence; leading to addiction

Cannabinoids (Marijuana)

Physiological

•Increased heart rate

•Impaired short-term memory

•Distorted sense of time and space

•Diminished ability to concentrate

•Slowed coordination and reaction of reflexes

•Respiratory diseases

Psychological

•Mood instability

•Impaired thinking and reading comprehension

Glucocorticosteroids

The primary medical use of these compounds is to treat allergies, asthma, inflammatory conditions, and skin disorders among other ailments.

Physiological

•Loss of muscle mass

•Weakening of injured areas in muscle, bone, tendon, or ligament

•Decrease in or cessation of growth in young people

Beta Blockers

The primary medical use of beta-blockers is to control hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, angina pectoris (severe chest pain), migraine, and nervous or anxiety-related conditions.

Physiological

•Lowered blood pressure

•Slow heart rate

•Sleep disorders

•Spasm of the airways

Blood doping

Physiological

•Increased stress on the heart

•Blood clotting

•Stroke

* With transfusions, there is an increased risk of infectious disease such as AIDS or hepatitis.

Human Growth Hormone (hGH)

Physiological

•Severe headaches

•Loss of vision

•Acromegaly (Protruding or enlarged jaw, brow, skull, hands and feet)

•High blood pressure and heart failure

•Diabetes and tumors

•Crippling arthritis