1. A2 PE – Short Term
Technical
Preparation
The Use of Drugs and
Supplements in Sport

2. Lesson/topic Objectives
1)
To understand why elite athletes often
„choose‟ to take legal and illegal drugs
and supplements
2) Develop knowledge regarding the
legalities of drugs in sport

3. Drugs and Supplements

Throughout history athletes have always manipulated their diet to
improve performance!!
Medieval knights used
alcohol to prepare
themselves

Ancient Greek Olympians ate
‘special mushrooms’ to give
them speed and power in
jousting
And today athletes are still
looking for ways to give
themselves that competitive edge
Caffeine has been
used throughout
history to give
athletes endurance

4. Supplements


These are legal additions to the athletes diet as NGB‟s do not feel
they have negative effects on health
Research may change this
however!

Eg‟s of supplements?

Dietary and nutritional supplements are very common and available
on the high street

Vitamins and minerals are available to aid recovery ; e.g. from a
heavy weights work out (also help to prevent illness)

5. What makes supplements illegal?
1)
2)
3)
Physically enhance the performance of the athlete
Be detrimental to the athletes health (or potentially lethal
Conflict with the general spirit of sport
If two of the above are present then the substance will be illegal in sport
5 main illegal drug categories in sport





Anabolic steroids
Peptide hormones
Strong analgesic painkillers
Stimulants
Diuretics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBBWMRRWOrM

6. Where to draw the line?

There is now a list of „banned substances‟
in sport

Many athletes have been tested positive to
using these however they argue their
innocence as they have for example taken
a cough mixture bought over the counter

Should they be punished?

7. Gamesmanship

Definition….
“Using whatever means possible to overcome your
opponent, without directly breaking the rules of the sport”

DRUG TAKING IS THE ULTIMATE IN
GAMESMANSHIP

Due to increasing amount of rewards in sport the urge to
win is larger than any underlying morals of the athlete.

8. Homework task!!

Rules regarding drug taking can often contradict
themselves; Athletes are allowed to train at high
altitude to develop efficiency however blood doping is
illegal

Using any information we have discussed; Develop your own system of
legalities regarding short term technical preparation and drugs in sport. It
should:-
1)
Outline the boundaries between legal/illegal supplements
Give reasons behind your answers
2)
THERE IS NO RIGHT AND WRONG!!! (1XA4 sheet)
You may use the internet, your text book and other resources to support you