Categories of Ergogenic Aids

Ergogenic aids fall into several categories, including mechanical aids, pharmacological aids, physiological aids, nutritional aids, and psychological aids. Some ergogenic aids, such as blood doping, erythropoietin (EPO), anabolic steroids, and human growth hormone, are widely banned by sports organizing committees and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). For a comprehensive and upto-date list of widely restricted and banned ergogenic aids, along with prohibited methods for achieving performance enhancement, visit the following Web site: www.wada-ama.org/en/.

Despite widely publicized problems associated with the ingestion of many substances with ergogenic properties, athletes continue to play Russian roulette with their bodies. The side effects from taking anabolic steroids, for instance, may be irreversible and include hypertension; dysplasia resulting in tendon ruptures; liver tumors; psychosis (steroid rage); hirsutism; clitoral hypertrophy and lower voice in women; breast development, testicular atrophy, and impotence in men; and premature closure of the bone epiphyses, causing shorter stature in adolescents.⁶ In addition,most ergogenic aids are taken to counter ongoing dietary shortcomings that would be cheaper, safer, and more effectively corrected with simple changes in food and fluid consumption. For instance, the amino acid delivery from protein and amino acid supplements is more than 10 times more expensive than the consumption of a small piece of chicken or meat, and the latter is known to be safe. Of course, the legality of obtaining and consuming certain substances should also be considered. Although widely available, anabolic steroids are prescription medications that may legally be prescribed only by a doctor for a patient who presents with defined clinical symptoms. The issue of safety should not be taken lightly. Products containing combinations of caffeine and ephedrine have resulted in numerous deaths, leading to the banning of ephedra and related substances from U.S. and other markets.⁷

Given the widespread advertisements purporting the ergogenic benefits of various substances, it is difficult for coaches and athletes to discern what works and what doesn't, what's safe and what isn't. In an issue of The Clipboard, a Gatorade Sports Science Institute publication, sports nutritionist Ellen Coleman summarizes some critical points to consider in evaluating these products (Adapted from: Coleman, E. How to Evaluate Supplements. The Clipboard. www.gssiweb.com. 12-3-2004):

• The supplement should carry USP (United States Pharmacopeia) on the label. The USP symbol indicates the supplement has passed standard tests for solubility, disintegration, potency, and purity.
• Make sure the product is made by nationally known food and drug manufacturers. Reputable manufacturers follow strict quality-control procedures. Companies failing to answer questions or address complaints should not have your business.
• The supplement should be supported by research. Reputable companies provide research findings from peer-reviewed journals to support claims.
• Look for accurate and appropriate claims. If statements about the supplement are unclear or the label makes preposterous claims, it is unlikely the company follows good quality-control procedures. Claims that sound too good to be true probably are.

A major problem with dietary supplements is that it is difficult to be sure of their content. According to Maughan (2001), the dietary supplements athletes take might cause them to fail a doping test because they may contain nandrolone (an anabolic steroid) or other banned substances.₈ Maughan cites numerous reports of athletes failing drug tests because herbal supplements they believed to be safe and legal actually contained banned substances. Clearly, athletes should ask themselves if the risks of taking a supplement outweigh the potential benefits. They may believe they are doing nothing contrary to sports organizing committee rules (e.g., the IOC or USOC), but there is increasingly a zero tolerance for banned substances. If a banned substance is found in an athlete's body, the athlete is “guilty” even if it got there without his or her knowledge or consent.