Doping
...ffect wears off. This dependence can lead a user to turn to stronger stimulants such as cocaine, or to larger doses of amphetamines to maintain a "high". Caffeine Caffeine, a mild stimulant, is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. It is present in soft drinks, coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and numerous prescription and over-the-counter drugs, it can also be bought over-the-counter in tablet form.. It increases norepinephrine secretion and enhances neural activity in numerous brain areas. Tolerance occurs rapidly to the stimulating effects of caffeine. Caffeine, most people's pick-me-up. 2 Erythropoietin - EPO Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone produced by the kidney that promotes the formation of red blood cells by the bone marrow. The resultant rise in red cells increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. The kidney cells that make EPO are specialized so that they are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood coming into the kidney. These cells make and release EPO when the oxygen level is too low. EPO is a protein, with an attached sugar (a glycoprotein). It is one of a number of similar glycoproteins that serve as stimulants for the growth of specific types of blood cells. Normal levels of EPO are 0 to 19 (some say up to 24) mU/ml (milliunits per milliliter). Higher levels might indicate that an athlete has been abusing EPO for a competitive advantage. EPO has been misused as a performance- enhancing drug in aerobic sports such as cycling (in the Tour de France), long-distance running, speed skating, and Nordic (cross-country) skiing. When misused in such situations, EPO is thought to be especially dangerous (perhaps because dehydration due to vigorous exercise can further increase the thickness (viscosity) of the blood, raising the risk for heart attacks and strokes. EPO has been banned by the Tour, the Olympics, and other sports organizations 3 Anabolic Steroids Anabolic-androgenic steroids are man-made substances related to male sex hormones. "Anabolic" refers to muscle-building, and "androgenic" refers to increased masculine characteristics. "Steroids" refers to the class of drugs. These drugs are available legally only by prescription, to treat conditions that occur when the body produces abnormally low amounts of testosterone, such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence. They are also used to treat body wasting in patients with AIDS and other diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass. Abuse of anabolic steroids, however, can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible. Athletes and body builders abuse anabolic steroids to enhance performance and improve physical appearance. Anabolic steroids are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles of weeks or months (referred to as "cycling"), rather than continuously. Cycling involves taking multiple doses of steroids over a specific period of time, stopping for a period, and starting again. In addition, users often combine several different types of steroids to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing negative effects (referred to as "stacking"). The major side effects from abusing anabolic steroids can include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin, tissues, and bod...