Team Performance 12 Report: Sports, Drugs, and Development

This report delves into the global challenge of illegal drug use in sports, examining its impact on team performance and the professional development of athletes. It discusses the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, banned substances like blood doping and anabolic steroids, and the reasons behind drug use, including medical conditions, performance enhancement, peer pressure, and availability of substances. The report highlights the historical context of drug use in sports, the harsh reality of cheating, and the consequences for athletes. It includes a reading log summarizing peer-reviewed articles and a short reflection statement. Finally, it presents a personal development plan, offering a comprehensive analysis of the issue and its implications for the sports industry and athlete careers.

Manage team performance to support strategy
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Utilization of illegal drugs in sports and its impact on the professional development and
future careers of the sports person.............................................................................................3
The World Anti-doping Authority (WADA) has banned over 192 performer-enhancing
methods and utilization of these drugs can ruin the career of an athlete...................................3
Multiple reasons behind choosing drugs in sports by athletes...............................................4
Harsh reality: using drugs to cheat in sports is not new.............................................................6
Reading log................................................................................................................................6
Short reflection statement..........................................................................................................9
Personal development plan......................................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
A sport performance is the difficult mixture of biochemical function which incorporates
emotional factors and various training techniques to empower a sports person in the
fulfilment of their goals (Eliasson, Karp and Wickman, 2017). However, performance
analysts also play the important role in an athletic context. For this report, the selected global
challenge is use of illegal drugs in sports. In the first section, there will be discussion about
impact of illegal drugs in sports on the professional development of the sports personality.
Apart from this, 4 peer-reviewed articles will also be reviewed in this report. After the
reading log section, a short reflection will also be done. In the end, personal development
plan will also be made in this report.

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Utilization of illegal drugs in sports and its impact on the professional development and
future careers of the sports person
Utilization of drugs in sports is known as drug abuse. As drug abuse in the sports is generally
occurs at the competition level where performers fear to lose the competition. In other words,
performer or sports people use drugs to enhance their strength and stamina so that they can
perform exceptionally great as compare to other performers. Generally, sports people use the
drugs right before the commencement of the competition to excessive energy in their body
(Fatma, Khan and Husain, 2017).
The World Anti-doping Authority (WADA) has banned over 192 performer-enhancing
methods and utilization of these drugs can ruin the career of an athlete.
Below mention drugs are illegal and when sports personalities caught while using these drugs
then they are immediate eliminated from the context (Kutuev, Bukalerova and Ulezko, 2018).
Even, it is also noticed in many competitions that if the sports personalities are caught with
the symptoms of these drugs then also management of the competition sent their athletes for
blood and urine test. Below is the list of drugs which are banned by WADA:
 Blood doping:
Blood doping is known as the injection of red blood cells, athletes inject blood doping
in their nerves. This blood doping injection contains red blood cells and artificial
oxygen containers that directly goes in the blood stream of the person via nerves. As a
result, artificial levels of the red blood cells improve oxygen transparent and athletic
endurance. From the long-term perspective, it is extremely dangerous and it can even
make athletes weaken which causes them early retirement but from the immediate
short-term perspective, blood doping act like the immediate internal power supply
which enhances their stamina and blood functioning (Loland, 2018).

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 Anabolic steroids:
Anabolic steroids increase testosterone and epitestosterone that resultant in improving
muscle strength and endurance in the body. Apart from this anabolic steroids have various
other categories such as bambuterol, clenbuterol, salbutamol, tibolone, zeranol, zilpaterol
and selective androgen receptor modulators (Mazzeo, 2016).
 THG:
The synthetic steroid drug is the newly found drug in the year 2004, this drug is
undetectable and athletes use this drug for gaining the immense power before the
competition (Mazzeo, et. al., 2018). However, after taking this synthetic steroid drug
is delivers various symptoms through which it can be judged that a person took this
drug before the game or they are sober.
Multiple reasons behind choosing drugs in sports by athletes
Athletes take drugs for variety of reasons. However, it can be analysed that principle reason
behind taking drugs in the sports are:
 Treatment of medical conditions:
In the general sense, athletes stay fit at the psychological and physiological level but
still there are many long-term challenges which require immediate medical
intervention such as asthma, etc. It is noted that athletes take the use of drugs for
solving their medical problems by the medium of steroids to get immediate better
results (Nicholls, et. al., 2017).
 As an alternative to enhance performance:
Athletes put their constant pressure to achieve excellence in their chosen sport.
Choosing drugs as an alternative to enhance performance is the way to gain the short
terms results. However, it is illegal to take use of certain type of drugs as guided by
the WADA but still it is noticed that many athletes take use of these drugs to enhance

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their performance abilities. Moreover, WADA as guided to association to conduct
regular medical test to find-out the level of drugs in an individual’s body. On the other
hand, utilization of supplements for gaining extra protein, vitamins, etc is allowed by
the WADA (Palmi, et. al., 2019).
 Peer pressure:
Peer pressure to achieve excellence is also marked as the principle reason behind the
utilization of the drugs. For example: when a peer-pressure is created on an athlete to
accomplish certain goals for their nation, society or any other issue then athlete
choose drugs as the best available alternative to them. However, athletes are aware
that the utilization of drugs is strictly prohibited but still due to the peer-pressure they
choose to select drugs as an alternative (Runstedtler, 2016).
 Social and recreational use of drugs:
Not only athletes but general people also use the drugs for the social and recreational
purpose that starts right from the consumption of caffeine to prohibited drugs.
According to the WADA, there are many categories of the drugs which are prohibited
and it is also mentioned under the drug abuse name (Eliasson, Karp and Wickman,
2017).
 Availability of substances:
According to the various easily availability of these types of substances is also the
principle reason for the utilization of drugs. Availability of substances with
misleading information pushes an athlete to consume drugs for enhancing their
performance in the better way. However, it is expected from an athlete to never
choose these substances for any reason because it might have short term effective
results but it is dangerous for their long-term goals, even it can also ruin their sports
career (Fatma, Khan and Husain, 2017).

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Harsh reality: using drugs to cheat in sports is not new
It is the harsh reality and even the global associations are also aware that using drugs to
achieve excellence in sports career is not new but this is the ongoing incidents from many
decades. The first ban on drugs is imposed by the International Amateur Athletic Federation
in 1928. In 1992, Vicky Rabinowicz has interviewed small groups of athletes and she
obtained that most successful athletes are the one who incorporate illegal substances in their
body. On further investigation it is found that there are multiple drugs which are enhances the
performance and it is difficult to find these drugs in the body even after the medical and urine
test. As per the studies, it is also concluded that even the smaller dose of illegal substances
such as blood doping, steroids, etc can enhance the muscle strength by 5 to 20%. Even, the
International Amateur Athletic Federation also concluded that they require more upgraded
tools and machines to analyse even the small quantity of drugs in the body. However, medals
after winning the game, effective immediate results of the drugs and low rate of testing, etc
all forms a model through which athletes become attracting towards the illegal use of drugs
(Kutuev, Bukalerova and Ulezko, 2018).
Reading log
Date Title Comments

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19/2/2020
Sharma, D. (2018)
Effect of drugs on
individual and athlete in
sports. International
Journal of Yogic,
Human Movement and
Sports Sciences, 3(1):
493-495
Athlete incorporates the utilization of drugs for
enhancing their performance. These drugs also
include regular consumption of synthetic drugs.
According to the author, athletes should focus on
the science of yoga exercise to strengthen their
brain and muscle power regularly. Utilization of
synthetic drugs adversely impact the functioning
of the brain which causes adverse long-term
reactions. Instead of following drug abuse,
athlete should follow the science of yoga.
Although it is also mention in this literature that
yoga has the effective long-term benefits and it
requires consistent practice. On the other hand,
drugs may have short terms benefits but it is
extremely dangerous.
17/02/202
0
Gaffney, G.R. and
Bagchi, D. (2019)
Performance
enhancement drugs and
sports supplements: A
review of the evidence.
Cambridge: Academic
Press.
In the sports culture, drug abuse is always hot
heated topic and even after the immense
restrictions, drug abuse has not completed
stopped. Year after year drug evolution
consistently take place, but various federations
also implement strict guidelines year after year
on drug abuse. However, in modern days with
the help of medical science, people evolve those
drugs which are hard to find even in the blood or
urine test. In this way, government and

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federation require to change their strategy on
drug abuse. Moreover, in this literature it is
concluded that for completely put a ban on
drugs, government and federations should
concentrate on improving their medical
technology.
15/02/202
0
Gulam, A. and Dar,
M.A. (2016) Impact of
performance enhancing
drugs in sports.
International Journal of
Physical Education,
Sports and Health, 3(6):
401-404
In those competition format, where judgement of
the results is based upon the muscle strength,
stamina and vital capabilities of the body such as
wrestle, spin running, boxing, karate, etc then
athletes work very hard and shape them so that
they can win that competition. However, it is
noticed that instead of immense hard-work,
athletes focus on the synthetic and illegal
methods to enhance their body strength. These
methods include illegal drugs, harmful
supplements, steroids, etc. For the short-term,
these supplements increase the muscle power and
provide an extra edge over other players but it is
considered as illegal activity. Federation and
government always emphasis on conducting
various medical test to judge the level of drugs in
athlete’s body.

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16/02/202
0
Samuel, D.S. and
Priyadarshoni, S.P.
(2019) Steroids a boon
or bane in sports. Drug
Invention Today, 11(3),
67-98.
Steroids is known as the synthetic derivative of
testosterone which is used in sports by athletes.
Steroids is classified into seven types such as
sterols, sapogenins, etc. The core of all the
steroids is formed through the 20 carbon atoms
bonded, 2 cyclohexane rings and 1 cyclopentane
rings. Among the session of steroids, anabolic
steroids are the popular substance which is used
by the athlete because anabolic steroids contain
protein cells, skeletal muscles, virializing
properties, etc.
Short reflection statement
Through the above review I can understand that drugs have the long-term impact and it put
adverse impact on the brain. It is observed that media and healthcare magazines always
indicate the same and even athletes are also aware that utilizing drugs and steroids are
dangerous for their personal as well as for their professional life. Even after having the
awareness, athletes use the drugs for gaining immense muscle strengths for giving a tough
competition to their opponents. I can also say that drug abuse in sports is not a newly born

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topic but since my childhood I am listening via media and newspapers that certain sports
personalities caught having illegal substances to enhance their performance. Through this
study, it is analysed that WADA has prohibited the utilization of any substance in the sports
that resultant in artificial muscle strength. Even WADA also take a blood and urine test
before allowing athletes to take part in the competition. On the other hand, people involve in
the business of drugs have evolved various category of drugs that can be taken by the athletes
and it is impossible to detect them via medical tests. Thus, according to me, federations and
government should focus on advancing their resources so that they can analyse even the small
volume of illegal substances. Drug abuse require to be completely banned and it require the
intervention of more advanced technology then current.
Personal development plan
Goal Achieve by (date) Skills to be
gained
Relevance to
employability
Goal 1 31st July Achieving
excellence in
100metre
spinning running
This skill will help me to
stay fit all the time and it
will improve my stamina
and blood circulation in my
body.
Goal 2
30th June
Learning
swimming
In this summer, I want to
complete my goal of
learning professional
swimming which will
include various swimming
style.
Goal 3 15th July Kicking and
boxing practice
Another fitness goal is to
complete 15days kicking
and boxing practice
challenge.
Goal 4 15th October Completing 6
months gym
membership
After completing my 6
months gym under the
guidance of the personal
trainer, this session will
help me in losing excessive
fat and staying fit.

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