SOA Sports Science Convenor Jason Simpson explores the issues around drugs in sport.
Orienteering, just like every other sport, is having to deal with the increasing problem of doping.
Some of you may know about EPO and the darker side of orienteering. EPO (Erythropoietin) is a drug which enhances red blood cells allowing you to carry more oxygen around your body, and consequently get oxygen more quickly to your muscles. Unfortunately it can also make blood thicker, and this can be exacerbated when an athlete is dehydrated and may lead to disastrous consequences. Between 1989 and 1992, SEVEN young Swedish orienteers died from Nocturnal Heart Attacks and many experts now believe that this may have been due to EPO.
Hopefully you will all have received a Wallet Advice Card with March issue of SCORE. It contains lots of useful information and websites where you can check up-to-date lists of banned products. It is useful to carry this around as many doctors have limited experience in Sports Medicine, and may not be current with which prescribed medications are prohibited. Remember, your body is your responsibility so if in doubt, check it out!
At this time of year it is important to remember that many OTC (over-the-counter) cold and ‘flu remedies contain prohibited substances. It is not always clear-cut, and ignorance is no defence. You may recall that Alain Baxter was stripped of his 2002 Winter Olympics Bronze medal after using a Vicks Inhaler™ he bought in Salt Lake City; the problem was that the same product sold in the UK contains no banned substances, but the US version does!
Some medications are necessary for people’s health (for example inhalers for proven Asthma) and these are allowed as long as the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) form has been completed. (See the blue page in the wallet card for further information).
Drug taking (and its regulations) is not confined to elite athletes as Anni Kulmala, a Finnish Orienteer, found out in July ’03. The Finnish OF issued her with a warning after a random drug test revealed too much Pseudoephedrine. She did not deny this after they discovered it was from her Duact™, which she used for her allergies. In the press release at the time:
I was under the impression that it was ok to use this medicine because it was prescribed by a physician. Now I understand I was wrong. Because I am considered a recreational Orienteer, I haven’t studied the Doping List
said Kulmala, who in the latest rankings was 94th in Finland.
Using drugs can mean short-term success, but is then often followed by long-term misery. Many drugs have irreversible side effects including heart and liver disease, depression, insomnia, mood swings, infertility, acne, and gynaecomastia (the development of breasts in men). Just think back to all those East German athletes in the 70’s who were given doses of Testosterone by their coaches. Most of these athletes endured menstrual and gynaecological problems. Heidi Krieger chose to have a sex-change operation to try and deal with the long-term side effects and is now known as Andreas!
Also, it is crucial not to think something is safe just because it is herbal. Herbal products often contain banned substances such as Ma Huang (Chinese Ephedra) which is a naturally occurring plant containing the banned substance Ephedrine. Also, many herbal drinks do not provide an exhaustive list of their contents so an athlete will never be completely sure of what they are drinking. This happened to the sprinter Linford Christie, when he produced a positive sample following drinking Ginseng Tea.
Remember you have a responsibility to yourself, your club, your country and the whole sport of orienteering. Have a healthy, drug-free year of Orienteering.
(Thanks to Hilary Quick for all her help with this Project)
Posted by on 23rd Mar 07 Filed under: Sports Science