The prohibited chemicals and practices are classified as androgens, blood doping, peptide hormones, stimulants, diuretics, opioids, and cannabis. Drugs of any kind are prohibited in all sports, but some are treated more seriously than others. The NBA takes drug testing very seriously and does not want to see its players or coaches using drugs to improve their performance.
In addition to the eight classes of drugs listed above, marijuana is also banned by law in all forms, including hemp. However, this does not mean that everyone agrees that marijuana should be banned. In fact, several current and former NBA players have said that they used the drug and did not feel like it affected their performances.
It's a fair question: if something isn't harmful, why ban it? The simple answer is because we can! Sports organizations have the power to prohibit things that aren't legally defined as crimes under the law, so long as they believe those things could affect the outcome of games.
For example, baseball has a rule against hitting with runners on base, even though this doesn't harm athletes' health or safety. Hitting with runners on base keeps score consistent, which is important for competitive fairness.
Hormones, anabolics, EPO, beta-2 agonists, masking agents, and diuretics are among the drugs that are always prohibited. Stimulants, marijuana, narcotics, and glucocorticosteroids are examples of substances that are only prohibited in competition.
The use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents is completely unacceptable. Drug tests are used by sports authorities to check whether athletes are using illegal substances. If they do, they can be sanctioned or even disqualified from all or some of their competitions.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone. They increase muscle mass and strength while reducing body fat. Anabolic steroids have been used for years by athletes to help them train longer and harder at a time when more hours in the gym were necessary to achieve results. However, because of their harmful effects on the body, their use has become illegal starting in 2004.
List of prohibited drugs (not exhaustive)
Street drugs, stimulants, anabolic steroids, peptide hormones (i.e. human growth hormone [hGH]), alcohol, beta blockers (for archery and rifle shooting only), diuretics, beta-2 agonists, anti-estrogens, blood doping, and gene alteration are all prohibited. Drugs that enhance muscle strength or size, such as creatine, caffeine, and ephedrine, are also banned.
Banned substances can be divided into five main groups: anabolic agents, erythropoietin (EPO) boosters, growth promoters, masking agents, and steroidal agents. Anabolic agents include testosterone, hGH, DHEA, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). They increase the rate of protein synthesis in cells and help build muscle mass. The use of these drugs without a doctor's prescription is illegal.
Erythropoietin boosts are used by athletes who need extra oxygen in their bodies to exercise at high levels for prolonged periods of time. The drug allows them to produce more red blood cells, which carry oxygen to muscles and other organs, so they can perform better. It is usually given to cancer patients undergoing treatment or people with kidney problems. The FDA has not approved erythropoietin for non-cancerous uses but it is sold over-the-counter in Europe and some countries in Asia.
Stimulants (including amphetamine and cocaine) are illegal in competition, as are other narcotics such as methadone, oxycodone, morphine, and pethidine; and cannabinoids—cannabis in any form, natural or manufactured. Cannabis is allowed under the International Boxing Association's rules provided it does not contain more than 0.5% THC (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis). A boxer who tests positive for cannabis is subject to a fine or disqualification at his or her discretion.
In addition, there are several substances which should never be used by athletes: anabolic steroids and related products, including HGH; and various medications, including painkillers, diuretics (water pills), antidepressants, and psychostimulants (drugs that increase mental alertness). Anabolic steroids enhance skeletal muscle growth and development, making users bigger and stronger without increasing weight loss through sweat or normal digestion. They are particularly useful by athletes who need to gain weight or size up quickly. However, there are many health risks associated with anabolic steroids, including cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, psychological problems, and infertility. Medications such as Ritalin and Adderall are common psychostimulants used by athletes to improve performance, but they also carry health risks of their own. Health concerns include insomnia, anxiety, irritability, addiction potential, and hypertension.
Listed below is a list of prohibited "legal high" compounds.
Drugs that are illegal Stimulants such as amphetamines, cocaine, and MDMA (ecstasy), narcotics (such as heroin, morphine, and pethidine), and cannabinoids are examples of these (such as marijuana and hashish). Drugs used by athletes to improve performance include ephedrine and methamphetamines.
Illegal substances can be divided up into four main groups: steroids, stimulants, painkillers, and other drugs. Steroids are chemical compounds derived from animals or plants that have the ability to stimulate growth of muscle and bone tissue. They include testosterone, DHEA, and epitestosterone. Strict regulations on steroid use are in place for athletes at all levels. In fact, taking steroids without a prescription is a felony offense.
Stimulants are chemicals that increase the activity of neurons in the brain and nervous system. Commonly used medications such as caffeine and amphetamines are stimulants. Caffeine is found in many popular drinks and foods such as coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks. Amphetamines are used to treat depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. They work by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain. As we've seen, these chemicals can have adverse effects on an athlete's body over time.
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