Drugs in Sports Tidbits

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Androgen Receptors

Former anabolic steroid users have more androgen receptors than untrained individuals and drug free powerlifters. Powerlifter had more androgen receptors that the untrained individuals (Kadi 2000).


Physical Culture Examples

Meaning of Natural

Before the 1960s, "Natural" used to refer to someone who did not train with weights, but appeared athletic. After the 1960s, "Natural" it slowly began to take on a different meaning.


Sports Publications' Non-disclosure Motivated by Ad Revenues

Bodybuilding and sports magazine publishers have much to gain by not opening reporting the widespread use of drugs in the sports in which they cover. Particular publishers stand to gain when their readers buy into the idea that they too can be like the champions that they see in their publication; if only they work hard enough, follow these champions' programs outlined in publishers' articles, and purchase the nutritional supplements, equipment, etc. as seen in the advertisements. The ads for these products are typically either accompanied by a scientific studies taken out of context or an impressive looking model or champion compensated for their endorsement. The message is basically, "You too can be like these champions if you continue to (A) work hard enough and (B) buy XY&Z".


Honest Dialog about Drugs in Sports

Talking honestly to an aspiring athlete about drugs in sports is quite difficult and can even be considered taboo. Without this discussion an athlete is left buying into the idea that they can achieve the same accomplishments as those highest in the sport who use drugs. Sports publications often propitiate this misconceived notion.

Presenting only a single-sided anti-drug propaganda message does not appear to be effective in reducing the use of drugs and risks the credibility of the presenter and who they represent in the eyes of the aspiring athlete. This lack of trust alienates authority, thereby severely reducing the likelihood the athlete would every reconsider seeking future assistance from these people in the future.

Also see Problems with Current Information on Anabolic Steroids.


Drugs Make Champions?

If sports enhancing drugs make champion athletes, why don't all those individuals that use sports enhancing drugs become champions?


Sociology of Drugs

Drugs can pass through several levels of use and social acceptance.

  1. Benefits and miracles of new drug spread
  2. Possible harmful effects and cases of abuse are discovered and reported
  3. Propaganda: demonized through misinformation and half truths
  4. Drug becomes illicit or controlled by governmental regulations
    • Use and/or possession of drug becomes a crime
  5. Blackmarket
    • Drug is obtained and used covertly
    • Drug is manufactured with no governmental regulation
      • Counterfeiting and use of potentially more dangerous substances or manufacturing practices
    • Social deviant involvement
  6. Renaissance
    • social and political stigma clears
    • possible benefits and potential harmful effects are seen more objectively
    • other applications are found or rediscovered
  7. Social Acceptance


Videos on Drug Politics

Propaganda Campaigns

Propaganda campaigns have demonized drugs such as marijuana (eg: 1936 film Reefer Madness) and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine), also known as Ecstasy with little regard for actual truth. See ABC News television documentary with Peter Jennings:

Politics of Drugs

Also watch the documentary Burzynski for other political issues in the pharmaceutical industry including the widespread corrupt and unethical practices of the US government involving the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Cancer Institute (NCI), US Patent Office (USPTO), and the National Institute for Health (NIH).

Anabolic Steroids

See National Geographic Channel's Science of Steroids.

 


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