Commonly Abused Doping Drugs at the Olympics
Even though doping is harder than ever to hide, some athletes are still getting away with it at the Olympic games. Between lab workers covering things up, and blood and urine samples getting purposely swapped, there is scandal everywhere. The most commonly abused doping drugs at the Olympics include the following:
Anabolic steroids: These drugs are actually hormones that increase strength and muscle mass. They include both testosterone and synthetic by products of testosterone.
Blood Doping: This process involves hormones and blood transfusions that increase one’s red blood cell count
Stimulants: Otherwise known as amphetamines, stimulants include ephedrine and caffeine. Caffeine was removed from the banned list in 2003, but cold medicines with pseudoephedrine are not allowed.
Growth factors: Including human growth hormone and insulin like growth factor, these growth-producing drugs are not allowed.
Asthma drugs: Glucocoricosteroids and Beta2 Agonists are both banned unless athletes prove a legitimate need.
With the recent Rio Olympics controversies and the evidence of doping from the Sochi Olympics, athletes are being tested and made aware of more drugs that contain the substances listed above to stay away from doping.
Source: scientificamerican.com