Drug Testing US Student-Athletes for Performance-Enhancing Substance Misuse: A Flawed Process.

The author argues that drug testing of U.S. high school students for performance-enhancing substance misuse is invasive, expensive, and the low number of positive test results do not justify the costs, especially in financially strapped school districts where this money would be better spent on injury prevention for athletes and the education of all students.

Autoridade Brasileira de Controle de Dopagem (ABCD).

The creation of the ABCD and the inclusion for the first time of a provision of financial resources in the Government's General Budget Forecast, demonstrates the degree of Brazil's commitment in the fight against doping. This as we seek to know and evaluate these models of excellence to help to structure and develop our own doping control operations, always taking into account the Brazilian reality.

Performance-enhancing substance misuse in sport: risk factors and considerations for success and failure in intervention programs.

This article reviews identified individual "risk factors" and exogenous cultural factors and processes associated with performance-enhancing substance use and misuse and successful and unsuccessful intervention efforts.

Is ginseng an ergogenic aid?

Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world. Although it is used for the treatment and prevention of many ailments, it is also used to increase work efficiency and is purported to increase energy and physical stamina. Athletes use ginseng for its alleged performance-enhancing attributes. However, many studies examining the pharmacological effects of ginseng on physical performance have not employed sound scientific design and methodology. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on published empirical research focusing primarily on the efficacy of ginseng with respect to physical and athletic performance. Despite attempts in recent investigations to improve on the scientific rigor used in examining the ergogenic properties of ginseng, the authors conclude that many of the same methodological shortcomings observed in earlier studies persist. Enhanced physical performance after ginseng administration in well-designed investigations remains to be demonstrated.

Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids and related substances in sport and exercise.

Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, which is the primary male sex hormone. Anabolic androgenic steroids are used to enhance athletic performance and appearance. Adverse effects include those on the liver, serum lipids, psyche/behavior and reproductive system. Androstenedione is an anabolic androgenic steroid used to increase blood testosterone levels for the purposes of increasing strength, lean body mass and sexual performance. However, there is no research indicating that androstenedione, or its related compounds, significantly increases strength and/or lean body mass in humans by increasing testosterone levels. The long-term health effects of prolonged androstenedione supplementation are unknown. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a weak androgen also used to elevate testosterone levels, and is advertised as an anti-obesity and anti-aging supplement capable of improving libido, vitality and immunity levels. However, research demonstrates that DHEA supplementation does not increase serum testosterone concentrations or increase strength in men, and may acutely increase testosterone levels in women, thus producing a virilizing effect.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids and related substances.

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, and anabolic-androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. Anabolic steroids are used to enhance athletic performance and appearance. Adverse effects include those on the liver, serum lipids, psyche/behavior, and the reproductive system. Androstenedione is an anabolic-androgenic steroid used to increase blood testosterone levels for the purposes of increasing strength, lean body mass, and sexual performance. However, there is no research indicating androstenedione or its related compounds, significantly increases strength and/or lean body mass by increasing testosterone levels. The long-term health effects of prolonged androstenedione supplementation are unknown. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a weak androgen also used to elevate testosterone levels. DHEA is also advertised as an antiobesity and antiaging supplement capable of improving libido, vitality, and immunity levels. However, research demonstrates that DHEA supplementation does not increase serum testosterone concentrations or increase strength in men, and it may have virilizing effects on women.

Voluntary and Mandatory Fitness Programs for Fire Fighters.

In brief Physiological studies were done on 50 fire fighters before and after they participated in successive year-long voluntary and mandatory physical fitness programs. Although neither program produced impressive fitness changes or was more cost-effective, mean aerobic capacity increased by 13% following the mandatory program, compared with a 3% increase after the voluntary program, suggesting that a mandatory program could more effectively improve fitness levels. It is recommended that fire fighters maintaining acceptable fitness standards be rewarded in some manner.