 In
high stakes competitive sports, winning often becomes
the most important objective. But fame and glory can be
taken away just as quickly as it was given when you bend
the rules. In 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was
stripped of his medal a mere 62 hours after winning the
gold when he tested positive for steroids. The incident
brought to light how widespread doping had become in sports.
To counter the problem, more sophisticated
screening methods have since been developed. Not to
be outdone, doping proponents have sparked an evolution
of performance enhancing drugs that would make Darwin's
head spin. Since its early days, doping has become much
more mainstream. From entire high school basketball
teams to the average weekend runner, athletes of all
levels now have a plethora of illegal substances to
choose from -- and they're gaining in popularity. Among
these agents, three top the list.
•Erythropoietin (EPO)
Cyclists and long-distance runners use this substance
to up their aerobic capacity and muscle endurance. This
synthetic hormone regulates red blood cell production
and is used clinically to treat anemia. The side effects
of EPO can range from muscle tremors, acne and oily
skin to high blood pressure and even heart attacks or
stroke.
•Human Growth Hormone (hGH) Considered the
drug of choice by many athletes, hGH is used primarily
by swimmers. It increases muscle and bone growth, reduces
body fat and helps people recover more quickly from
strenuous training. The drug has been used since the
50s to help treat growth hormone deficiencies and, most
recently, to reverse muscle damage in AIDS patients.
The longterm side effects of hGH are unknown, but short
term problems include severe bloating and excessive
bone growth in the face, hands and feet.
•Modafinil This stimulant
is usually prescribed for narcolepsy. It helps increase
alertness and is available in pill or tablet form. Track
and field athletes are the biggest users of modafinil.
Side effects include blurred vision, jitters, rapid
mood changes, memory problems and shortness of breath.
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