What happens if an athlete is caught using drugs

Error: This is required. Error: Not a valid value. Using drugs to improve performance in sport may lead to an athlete being banned and may also harm their health. Sporting authorities have banned many drugs and other substances, not just because they might give an athlete an unfair advantage but also because of the wider health risks. Using drugs in sport undermines values like fair play and teamwork. When sportspeople use drugs, they not only might damage their own health, they also give sport a bad reputation and set a poor example to others.

So-called 'performance-enhancing drugs' or 'performance and image-enhancing drugs' are banned in sports because they could give a sportsperson an unfair advantage over other competitors. These include stimulants such as amphetamines , cocaine and MDMA ecstasy , narcotics such as heroin , morphine and pethidine and cannabinoids such as marijuana and hashish.

Drugs found in legal medications can sometimes be used in the wrong way, without a prescription or bought on the black market, to enhance sporting performance. These include anabolic steroids, peptides and hormones. Some medicines and supplements are banned by sporting authorities, or contain banned substances. These include some prescription and over-the-counter medicines, some alternative medicines and some sports and dietary supplements.

Commonly used medications such as insulin, asthma medication and pseudoephedrine may be banned because they enhance performance. If you need the medicine for a legitimate medical reason, you may be granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption. You can find out more about how to apply on the Sport Integrity Australia website.

Note that GlobalDRO does not contain information on, or that applies to, any dietary supplements. Drugs that are banned in sport can cause several types of health problem. Their effects will depend on the type of drug, how much and how often it is taken, and who is taking it. Many of these drugs are very safe when prescribed by a doctor and used for medical purposes.

However, using them in sport can risk health problems because athletes may use too much, may not be under supervision, or because they may obtain them illegally so they are not regulated. Stimulants speed up the central nervous system and may be used by athletes to reduce fatigue and increase their alertness. They include amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy and methylphenidate Ritalin , as well as nicotine and caffeine. Health risks include:.

Similarly, in the NFL, players are tested up to three times per year at random. Surprisingly, in the MLB, players are only subject to the test within five days of reporting for spring training and one other test on a randomly selected date, in addition to random tests in and out of season.

In the NFL, a first violation leads to a minimum four-game suspension, while a third violation calls for a minimum month suspension as well as disqualification from the Pro Bowl and other honors for the year. In the NBA , the first positive result for PEDs earns a game suspension; the fourth violation results in disqualification from the league. If a first-year player tests positive for drugs of abuse, he earns a one year suspension with a chance of reinstatement after one year; all other players are suspended for at least two years.

A second violation leads to a game suspension without pay, and a third violation leads to a lifetime ban. However, violations of drugs of abuse are treated clinically first, rather than through suspension.

In the NFL, upon testing positive for a banned PED, the player is notified and the sample which is split in half during the original phase of testing is re-tested. Mandatory physical examinations are conducted to rule out naturally occurring high levels of chemicals such as testosterone , and psychological examinations may also be conducted in case of suspected addition. The burden of proof is placed on the league during an appeals process. In the NBA, meanwhile, the approach is much more recovery-focused.

Players who come forward with their drug problems receive league-funded counseling from the Life Extension Institute , a hour counseling center funded jointly by the NBA and the NBPA. Any player testing positive for a drug of abuse or found to possess such a drug must submit to an initial evaluation by medical personnel, who then determine whether or not a treatment program is necessary. The treatment program is agreed upon by medical personnel and the player, who can complete treatment as either an inpatient or an outpatient.

Players who refuse to comply with the treatment program or who test positive for drugs of abuse after their evaluation and commitment to the treatment board may find themselves suspended or subject to other discipline. Out of the major professional sports, the MLB has perhaps the most interesting history of drug policies. GW never made it through pre-clinical trials because it consistently caused cancer.

Although the long-term effects of SARMs are still unknown, side effects may start with hair loss and acne. More serious health consequences have also been documented, including liver toxicity, as liver enzymes rise, and drops in good cholesterol, which can affect heart health.

If this stress continues, SARMs have the potential to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. One of the most commonly abused performance-enhancing drugs, testosterone, comes with a wide range of immediate and long-term side effects. Continued use can cause the body to stop producing hormones naturally and lead to organ enlargement, stunted growth, liver damage, and fertility issues. Moreover, natural testosterone levels may never recover, making the consequences of doping irreversible.

Side effects may also be psychological, with testosterone often being connected to increased aggressiveness because it impacts the brains subcortical structures in the amygdala and the hypothalamus. As with any anabolic steroid use, withdrawal from testosterone use may lead to depression, and even suicide. Prohibited stimulants, like methylhexanamine, that are often found in contaminated pre-workout supplements, as well as permitted stimulants, like caffeine, can both result in negative health effects if abused.

At low doses, stimulants can lead to increased perspiration, shaking, inability to focus, and sleep loss, as well as low appetite and dehydration. In higher doses, stimulants can also lead to more severe health effects, such as rapid heart rate and high blood pressure. Abuse of some stimulants has been shown to age the cardiovascular system more aggressively than smoking. And continued stress on the heart can eventually lead to cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, and heart attack.

Blood doping, which often involves the use of prohibited erythropoietin, or EPO, increases the number of red blood cells in the body. This increase thickens the blood, making it difficult for the heart to pump. The result is a higher risk of life-threatening diseases including stroke, heart disease, and cerebral or pulmonary embolisms.

There have been multiple deaths attributed to blood doping. I raced 13 or 14 years as a professional cyclist. I was racing in Europe full-time, we had European riders on the team, we had European staff. I had finished a stage race in Southern Spain, like a week-long stage race, and I was just like a starfish on my bed, collapsed. He was wearing this fly fishing vest and he reached into one of the pockets and he pulled out this little red, egg-shaped capsule.

And that was the moment, he handed me this capsule, that was the moment. And it showed that they had faith in me and that they thought I had a future in the sport. So, yeah, I made that decision.

I knew it was wrong from the moment I put it in my mouth, for sure. But I also thought that I had to look the other way. This was my opportunity, everybody else was doing it, so I kind of had to just join the club and not think so much about it.

That little red testosterone pill led to other things. A month or two later I was introduced to my first injection of a drug called EPO, which basically boosts your hematocrit, which brings red blood cells to your muscles. Consequences of Doping. We also know that some athletes may be more vulnerable to a doping decision. The facts - what you need to know For Anti-Doping Rule Violations of presence or use of a prohibited substance, the basic rules are as follows: If you intended to cheat, whatever the substance, the period of ineligibility is four years Otherwise, it is two years — unless you can show you had no significant fault or negligence, in which case ineligibility may be reduced by up to a maximum of one year that is, to a minimum ineligibility of one year If the violation involved a specified substance or a contaminated product, and you can demonstrate you had no significant fault, ineligibility may range from two years to a reprimand depending on your level of fault You should also be aware that multiple Anti-Doping Rule Violations, or the presence of multiple substances may increase the sanction you face beyond four years.

For some Anti-Doping Rule Violations the penalty can be a life ban from sport. What you should do Make sure you stay up to date with anti-doping matters to prevent inadvertent doping and keep records of any enquiries you make about any supplements you may take.

Seek help when you feel under pressure or unable to cope with the demands of training and competing — there are always alternatives to doping that will not damage your health, reputation and sporting career Develop your resilience over your sporting career - working with your coach , wider support team , parents and other athletes Remember that the majority of athletes are clean — doping athletes are not the majority Where to go for further advice If you require support in dealing with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, organisations such as the British Athletes Commission may be able to assist you.