Part4: Special Aids to Exercise Training and Performance

Considerable information exists about ergogenic aids and athletic performance - ergogenic referring to the application of a nutritional, physical, mechanical, psychological or pharmacological procedure or aid to improve physical work capacity or athletic performance.

We will look at the potential benefits of alcohol, amphetamines, ephedrine, hormones, carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, additional red blood cells, caffeine, carnitine, creatinine, phosphates, oxygen-rich breathing mixtures, massage, wheatgerm oil, mnrelas...and even marijuana and cocaine on athletic performance.

PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS

Many athletes use pharmacological agents to improve power, endurance and strength.

The IOC currently bans the following 7 category of substances:

1. Stimulants
2. Narcotic analgesics
3. Androgenic-anabolic steroids
4. B-blockers
5. Diuretics
6. Peptide hormones and analogues
7. Substances that alter urine sample integrity.

Continue tomorrow....