Cardiac Risks Associated with Anabolic Agents Use in Football: A Study

This report investigates the cardiac risks linked to the use of anabolic agents by athletes, specifically focusing on football. The study explores the background, aim, objectives, and research questions related to the topic, highlighting the potential health hazards associated with performance-enhancing drugs. The methodology involves search strategies like PICO and PRISMA to identify relevant studies and data. The report examines the side effects of anabolic agents, their impact on cardiovascular health, and the clinical implications for athletes. It includes an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion, offering a comprehensive analysis of the issue and providing recommendations based on the findings. The research aims to ascertain the cardiac risks associated with anabolic agents, contributing to a better understanding of the health concerns and ethical considerations in sports. The report uses secondary research, focusing on databases such as PubMed and Medline, to gather data and draw conclusions.

CARDIAC RISK ASSOCIATED WITH USE
OF ANABOLIC AGENTS IN SPORT

ABSTRACT
Anabolic agents are the substances that are considered as androgenic steroids to increase
metabolism, muscle mass and on the other hand, it helps in reducing fatigue. Some Steroids are
Tibolone, Zilpaterol, Zeranol and Clenbuterol. It is considered as performance-enhancing drug,
which has increased cardiovascular risks. However, to control the use of anabolic agents World
anti doping agency have banned the use of substances for athletes.
The research will be focused on analysing increasing cardiac risk for Athletes with the
help of various researches and data collection. The researcher has chosen this topic because it is
increasing ethical and health concern for sports. Steroids abuse can be hazardous because its side
effects can not be controlled
Further, use of steroids make athletes dependent on its use for enhancing performance.
The research will be conducted with the help of exploratory design where scholars will explore
every possible aspect of study to derive accurate results and findings on clinical and health
concerns with use of anabolic agents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................2
RESEARCH TITLE.........................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
Background of study...............................................................................................................1
Aim.........................................................................................................................................2
Objectives...............................................................................................................................2
Questions................................................................................................................................2
Rationale of study...................................................................................................................3
Structure of dissertation..........................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 2: METHODS...............................................................................................................4
Search methods for identifying and refining studies..............................................................4
Data Collection.......................................................................................................................6
Data Analysis..........................................................................................................................6
Ethical consideration..............................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 3: RESULTS.................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION...........................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION........................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

RESEARCH TITLE
“To ascertain the cardiac associated risks due to use of anabolic agents by athletes: A case study
on football sport”.
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Background of study
Anabolic agents are chemical substances that are not androgenic steroids but affects
human body like increase in muscle mass, high metabolism, decrease in fatigue and change in
recovery time due to their fundamental interaction with androgenic receptors. These agents are
available in all forms like tablet, liquid and skin patch form (Maroon and et.al., 2015).
Anabolic agents have both long term and short-term side effects on body that may
include heart attack, jaundice, liver damage, failed kidney, high blood pressure, headaches,
dizziness etc. Psychological side effects are also caused by these chemical substances like mood
swings, paranoia, agitation, restlessness, insomnia and depression. Cardiac risk is that risk, which
is related to human heart like chances of getting stroke or heart attack. It involves diseases
related to heart and blood vessels (Solberg and et.al., 2016).
There are many risk factors, which are associated with these diseases; main indicator of
risk is people health history that may include age, family history, alcohol consumption, smoking,
blood pressure, poor diet, unhealthy life style, diabetes, less physical activity etc. Some risk
factors cannot be altered like family history but other factors like blood pressure, diabetes can be
changed by providing proper treatment to patients (Naqvi and Flaherty, 2016). These risks
should accessed and managed by doctors as well as patients.
Cardiac risk is common among people who are involved in excess alcohol consumption,
obesity, high cholesterol and low educational status, high consumption of steroids, poor diet, and
smoking and raised blood sugar (KNieschlag and Vorona, 2015). Most of these factors can be
altered with treatment. Age and poor diet are also part of cardiac risk factor as the most people
who suffer from heart stroke are above age of fifty-five. Diet that contains more carbohydrate
fats, low intake of vegetables and fruits, and more consumption of junk foods can be termed as
poor diet, which can also cause cardiac diseases to human in taking it. Athletes are involved in
consuming anabolic agents in order to achieve success at any cost (Campos and et.al., 2017).
Mainly footballers use these chemical substances in high doses to improve their
performance and competitiveness. Sometimes coaches of football team also force footballers to
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have anabolic in order to build reputation for their team. These drugs help in promoting
aggressiveness, lean muscle mass and change in body weight. Many risks are involved in
consumption of these chemical substances like nausea, vomiting, increased risk of ligament and
tender injury, headaches, aching joints, depression, high sugar level, sleep problem and severe
acnes (Bird and et.al., 2016).
Thus, it can be said that consumption of these drugs mainly involves cardiac risk like
heart stroke and attack. Footballers also face problem related heart like increased cholesterol and
high blood pressure. It increases blood triglyceride and lower blood level of high density. High
use of these drugs by footballers can result in temporary infertility or sterility, altered sex drive,
painful erection, increase level of oestrogen, abnormal sperm production, reduce level of
Testosterone, shrinkage of testicles (DeKosky, Jaffee and Bauer, 2018). Heart related diseases
can also lead to death of athletes and also affect functioning of heart that results in many
problems related to cardiac. Consumption of anabolic agents only harms body of footballers and
there are no benefits related to health in consuming them.
Aim
“To ascertain the cardiac associated risks due to use of anabolic agents by athletes: A case study
on football sport”.
Objectives
 To explore side effects and actions of Anabolic Steroids in sport
 To determine use of anabolic agents by athletes to enhance their performance
 To analyse relation between cardiovascular risk and Anabolic steroids
 To evaluate clinical implication of in taking Anabolic steroids by Athletes for enhancing
performance
Questions
 What are the side effects and actions of Anabolic Steroids in sport?
 Explain the use of anabolic agents by athletes to enhance their performance?
 Describe relation between cardiovascular risk and anabolic steroids?
 What are the clinical implications of taking anabolic steroids by athletes for enhancing
performance?
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Rationale of study
The study is conducted with motive of boosting knowledge over use of steroids by
athletes. In various studies and researches, it has been evaluated that anabolic agents are used in
sports for enhancing performance. Further, the study is for academic interest, which will help in
gaining critical understanding over different concepts such as cardiovascular risks associated
with consumption of steroids. Moreover, it will outline chemical reaction of steroids which are
used for boosting performance specifically for footballers. On the other hand, the research is
based on secondary study, which will be analysing in the form of systematic review.
Structure of dissertation
Chapter 1 Introduction: This chapter of study will help in developing understanding over
research title on the basis of which dissertation will be followed.. This is an introductory phase,
which helps in analysing the needs of conducting study with regard to problems statement.
Chapter 2 Methods: This chapter helps in analysing design and approach of research which
helps in logical and analysing research information. Methodological tools play a vital role in
deriving search strategies such as Pico, Prisma etc. Deriving proper search tools of systematic
review helps the scholar in making entire process systematic and smooth.
Chapter 3 Results: In this, scholar will outline findings from different secondary researches
such as PubMed and Medline. The results will be based on secondary database, which have been
collected by scholar for different types of study. It is effective because it helps in gaining in
depth understanding over research aim to identify cardiac risks associated with consumption of
anabolic agents by athletes.
Chapter 4 Discussion: This chapter of dissertation is based on framing assumptions on the basis
of results to answer research questions. Discussion helps in analysing root cause of the problems
and measure to overcome. Further, it will assist in determining strengths and weaknesses of the
study. It is the stage of research which aids in drawing final conclusion and recommendations to
research aim.
Chapter 5 Conclusion and recommendations: It is the summary of entire research, which
outlines brief discussion of overall methods and findings of dissertation. It is the time saving
approach which enable knowledge over entire investigated results and methods used. However,
recommendations in the dissertation are framed on the basis of results and findings which are for
academic learning and knowledge.
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CHAPTER 2: METHODS
Search methods for identifying and refining studies
Search methods are used by scholar to appraise and identify unpublished and published
views and studies of different authors which are related to research topic. It isway of
systematically developingown understanding and experiences which the individual have learnt
from key searches.
Electronic searches
Electronic searches play a vital role in outlining different types of studies for addressing
one problem statement. It is focus of scholar is on determining appropriate use of keywords and
searches are based on specific words which are base of research topics and problems statement.
In this study, the focus of researcher is on databases and resources like science direct, PubMed
and Medline etc. However, database in study comprises of online journals that will include
studies on use of anabolic agents by athletes and risk associated with consumptions of steroids in
global context. Further, for refining electronic research the focus of investigator is on screening
references to which helps in providing evidence to study. Searching for references helps in
enhancing reliability and validity of investigation.
Keywords
Initial researches of study will be based on keywords like cardiac risk, anabolic agents,
supplements, anabolic steroid abuse, stimulants, nutritional supplements, stamina, strength etc.
Choosing words is the key task of study where it is important for researcher to ensure that
chosen words are viable and related to study. Moreover, it is necessary for scholar to make
choice of appropriate words, which helps in extracting maximum information for addressing
research problem. The keywords of study will be based on research aim, objectives and
questions.
Pico
Pico is a literature research strategy, which derives specific search framework where P
stands for patient, population or problems as per research elements. I stand for intervention
which are the base of study for discussion and findings (Shea and et.al., 2017). C stands for
comparison which will helps the scholar in developing critical understanding over problem
statement. O recognised as outcomes, which denotes final conclusion and findings of study on
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the basis of which recommendations are based. It is considered as effective research tool for
secondary research because it helps in outlining valid arguments.
It comprises the basic elements that can be beneficial for the investigator to drive results
for research problems. Thus, this study on cardiac risk is associated with consumption of
anabolic agents by football athletes, the research will make use of PICO (Ort and et.al., 2014).
Further, with the help of this tool, researcher is able to outline systematic review with help of
comparison from different publishers (Alfirevic and et.al., 2016).
Prisma
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Illustration 1: Prisma flow diagram

It is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and
meta-analyses. It is used by researcher for evaluating findings of different publishers, which are
being considered for results and discussion (Shamseer and et.al., 2015). It is particularly
effective for research based on PICO, which derives intervention of study.
In this research method, the scholar first seeks for searched data base and duplicity of
information in order to remove similar researched information and sources (Moher and et.al.,
2015). Further, methods help in evaluating eligibility for full articles in order to analyse its
benefit and limitations as per stated problems. Last step of flow diagram is synthesizing research
outcomes in order to draw final results and findings. Thus, it can be said that it is the most
effective approach that helps scholar in refining searched information and further eliminating
waste data (Barker and Pistrang, 2015). It is source of framing effective and reliable discussion
on the basis of electronic searches.
Data Collection
Collecting data is a crucial part of study, which is based on research of scholar. However,
it is necessary for the scholar to use appropriate keywords and search engine for extracting data.
There are various data collection methods that are primary and secondary, where primary data is
based on current findings and facts which help in final decision-making.
On the other hand, there is secondary data collection process, which is based on past
findings and facts collected and reviewed by numerous authors. Thus, the present study is based
on secondary source, which will be collected with the help of different research techniques as
search engines, Pico etc. The study is in form of systemic review where the focus of scholar is on
outlining information from different studies on one specific topic for developing logical and
analytical arguments.
Data Analysis
Analysing data is a crucial concern as it helps in drawing findings of research. However,
the study is based on key searches and reviews by different authors. Information transmission,
decision making in study helps in developing critical understanding over gathered information
from various sources. Managing data is a crucial concern, for which there are two research tools
that is Meta analysis, qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative tools are based on numerically
analysing results with the help of statistical tool that is Z test, correlation, T test etc.
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Further, there is qualitative analysis, which is analysed with the help of thematic analysis
and in theoretical form. Hence, the study is based on qualitative analysis where the results will be
analysed in form of different in results and discussion (Review articles, systematic reviews and
meta-analyses: which can be trusted? 2009).
Ethical consideration
Adhering to ethics play a vital role in managing effectiveness of data and therefore, it is
the foremost responsibility of researcher to ensure confidentiality of information shared by
different publishers. Further, the scholar aim is to make use of information for effective purpose
and not for offensive goal like harming anyone beliefs, values, attitude etc. Thus, to maintain
ethicality of data collection and analysis, the researcher will reference entire study and will in-
text arguments. This will help the researcher in maintaining reliability and validity of results and
discussions.
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CHAPTER 3: RESULTS
Theme 1: Use of anabolic Steroids
As per theme, it has been analyzed that anabolic agents are used by people for enhancing
physical performance, which were first experimented on soldiers in Germany by Nazi at the time
of Second World War. Further, it has been identified that athletes must recognize people for
consumption of anabolic agents in various countries across the globe.
However, in 1972 Olympics , 68 % of middle runners accepted the consumption of
steroids before performance to reboost their energy and strength (Smith and et.al., 2018). The
supplements are Anabolic-Androgenic steroids (AASs) that are artificially derived from male
hormone that is testosterone, which helps in maintaining effective growth muscle and is used for
developing male characterics.
Consumption of supplements to boost performance is considered as unethical and illegal
because Inversion of control was developed to detect the use of drug. Sports committee was
focused on banning use of steroids because apart from increasing strength, it is related to
cardiovascular risk (Anabolic Steroids, 2014). Further, it has been identified that intake of
steroids is addictive and has increased dependency of athletes for improving performance.
Apparently, it has been analyzed that steroids are used to treat medical conditions but are
being illegally used in sports to develop strength during performance. It is used by players to
endure strength, boost muscle mass and to reduce recovery time during practices (Angell and
et.al., 2018). Thus, it can be said that long term use of steroids as supplement leads to various
health corners like aggression, undesirable changes in body etc.
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Theme 2: Risks due to the use of anabolic agents by athletes
As per theme 2, it has been analyzed that long term use of Anabolic-Androgenic steroids
leads to side effects, which are related to cardiovascular risk such as heart stroke, acute chest
pain, etc. Further, it impacts liver, prostate and kidney of human body that could be life
threatening. In accordance with long term use of agents, it has been derived that left ventricle of
heart is responsible for pumping blood which becomes weak with continuous intake of steroids.
Apart from this, cardiac risk has been identified that consumption of steroids leads to
advise conditions such as testicular atrophy, gynaecomastia, psychological disorders,
hypogonadism etc. Intake of drugs leads to failure of contractile that leads to structural change
within ventricle and causes risk of blockage in flow of blood (Kanayama and Pope 2018). From
the drug screening of various athletes, it has been identified that intake of anabolic agents help in
boosting performance for specific period but makes body internally weak with continuous
consumption; it leads to weakening of muscle that denotes dependency of athletes on substance
use.
However, from various articles and studies, it has been discussed that consumption of
anabolic agents need to ban as it impacts functioning of human body where user experiences
tendon injuries, sensitive ligaments, vomiting, aching of joints, muscle cramps, sleeping
disorder, acne and diarrhea.
Moreover, it comprises of risk of liver disorder like cysts and tumors, heart problems like
stroke, attack (Zarghami and Nazari, 2018). On the other hand, it comprises changes in mood,
suicidal tendencies, hair loss, oily skin and patches. Thus, from the discussion, it can be said that
consumption of anabolic agents lead to overall body disorders that are treatable but incurable.
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