VELAMMAL VIDHYASHRAM

GUDUVANCHERY

ALL INDIA SENIOR SCHOOL

CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION BIOLOGY
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT ON

INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024

– 2025

NAME:DURAI VIGNESHWARAN
CLASS: XII
ROLL NO.:
GROUP: BIO MATHS
 BONAFIDE
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this BIOLOGY investigatory project based

on the topic “PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS” has been
successfully completed by DURAI VIGNESHWARAN of class XII
(BIOLOGY) at Velammal Vidhyashram, Guduvanchery for the
partial fulfilment of this project as a part of All India Senior School
Certificate Examination- CBSE New Delhi for the academic Year
2024 – 2025.

Date:

Signature of Principal: Signature of the Guide:

Submitted for AISSCE 2024-2025, BIOLOGY Practical Examination

on ………………….

Signature of Signature of
Internal examiner: external examiner:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The success of any project depends largely on people associated with it.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the enthusiasm of
all these personalities.

I hereby express my heartfelt thanks to our senior principal for having

given this opportunity to do the project in biology and for her constant
encouragement.

I extend my sincere gratitude to my biology teacher

……………....................... for the valuable guidance offered to me. Her
wholehearted encouragement and constant stimulant inspiration and
advice enabled me to complete the project successfully.

I am also thankful to all our Teaching staff and non-teaching staff for their
help during my course of study.

I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my parents for

their encouragement and support. Last but not the least I am thankful to
the Almighty.

DURAI VIGNESHWRAN D

XII.D
 INDEX

S.NO TOPIC PAGE NO

1. DEFINTION OF
PERFORMANCE
ENHANCIND DRUGS
2. TYPES

3. HISTORY

4. DOES IT REALLY
ENHANCE
PERFORMANCE ?
5. RISK FACTORS

6. HOW DOES DOPING

WORK ?
7. DOPING SCANDALS

8. BIBLOGRAPHY
DEFINITION OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCING
DRUGS
Performance-enhancing substances, also known as
performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances
that are used to improve any form of activity performance
in humans. A well-known example of cheating in sports
involves doping in sport, where banned physical
performance-enhancing drugs are used by athletes and
bodybuilders. Athletic performance-enhancing substances
are sometimes referred as ergogenic aids. Cognitive
performance-enhancing drugs, commonly called
Nootropics are sometimes used by students to improve
academic performance. Performance-enhancing substances
are also used by military personnel to enhance combat
performance.

Anabolic steroids are among the most popular PEDs of choice.

Chemicals in this special class of steroids, which include
testosterone, androstenediol, androstenedione, nandrolone and
stanozolol, are credited with increasing muscle mass and
strength, but drug tests can easily detect anabolic steroid
abuse.

Their effects are quite varied, and some only benefit certain
athletes playing certain sports. That makes it extremely tricky for
regulatory agencies like the International Cycling Union, World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA),Global Doping Prevention Authority
(GDPA) to keep up — and to keep drugs out of
competing athletes.
 TYPES
1.Anabolic Steroids:
Anabolic steroids are synthetically derived from
testosterone and modified to have greater anabolic effects.
They work by increasing the concentration of nitrogen in
the muscle which inhibits catabolic glucocorticoid binding
to muscle. This ultimately prohibits the breakdown of
muscle and preserves muscle mass. Examples of anabolic
steroids include: oxandrolene, stanozol and nandrolene.
Anabolic steroids can be taken through a transdermal
method, orally, or through injection. Injectional forms of
steroids are most potent and long-lasting. In general,
potential side effects include: muscular hypertrophy, acne,
hypertension, elevated cholesterol, thrombosis, decreased
high density lipoproteins, altered libido, hepatic carcinoma,
cholestasis, peliosis hepatitis, septic arthritis, Wilm’s
tumour, psychosis, aggression, addiction, and
depression.
Potential side effects specifically in male include:male

pattern baldness, oligospermia, prostrate hypertrophy,

testicular atrophy, and prostrate cancer.Potential side
specifically in females include: hirsutism, uterineatrophy,
amenorrhea, breast atrophy, and thickening of vocal cords.
Urine samples are tested to determine the ratio of
testosterone glucuronide to the epitestosterone
glucuronide, which should be 3:1. Any ratio of 4:1 or greater
is considered a positive test. The 1988 Anti-Drug Abuse Act
and 1990 Anabolic Steroid Act both deemed anabolic
steroids as an illegal substance when not used for disease
treatment.

2.Stimulant:
 Stimulants improve focus and alertness. Low
(therapeutic) doses of dopaminergic stimulants (e.g.,
reuptake inhibitors and releasing agents) also promote
mental and athletic performance, as cognitive enhancers
and ergogenic aids respectively, by improving muscle
strength and endurance while decreasing reaction time and
fatigue. Stimulants are commonly used in lengthy exercises
that require short bursts (e.g., tennis, team sports, etc.).
Stimulants work increasing catecholamines
levels and agonistic activity at the adrenergic receptors.
Examples of stimulants include: Caffeine, ephedrine,
methylphenidate and amphetamine. Potential side-effects
include: hypertension, insomnia, headaches, weight loss,
arrhythmia, tremors, anxiety, addiction and strokes. Some
stimulants are allowed in competitive sports and widely
accessible, though may also be monitored by the World
AntiDoping Agency (WADA), such as caffeine. Others are
banned as per the WADA(eg. cocaine, amphetamines,
ephedrine etc.)

3.Ergogenic Aids:
 Ergogenic aids, or athletic performance-enhancing
substances, include a number of drugs with various effects
on physical performance. Drugs such as amphetamine and
methylphenidate increase power output at constant levels
of perceived exertion and delay the onset of fatigue, among
other athletic-performance-enhancing effects, bupropion
also increases the power output at constants levels of
perceived exertion but only in short-term usage.

Examples:
• Human biomolecules – creatine and B-hydroxy

Bmethylbutyrate are naturally occurring

compounds in humans that have well-established
ergogenic effects and effects on body composition
when supplemented.
• Creatine: one of the most popular nutritional

supplements, it contributes to 400 million dollars in

sales globally every year. It is a nonessential amino
acid that helps to improve an athlete's performance
during short-term, high intensity exercises such as
weightlifting. Supplementation of creatine increases
skeletal muscle creatine levels, this boosts
performance by increasing the rate at which
adenosine triphosphate can be replenished from
adenosine diphosphate, thereby increasing maximal
power output. Potential side effects include
gastrointestinal cramps, weight gain, fatigue, and
diarrhea. Creatine is currently not recognized as a
prohibited substance and can be purchased as a
legal dietary supplement.
• Human Growth Hormone (hGH): endogenous

hormone that can help decrease fat mass while

increasing lean body mass. hGH is one of the most
commonly used substances among professional
 athletes because it has a small window for detection.
It works by promoting the release of IGF1,
insulinlike growth factor, the release of which has
anabolic effects on the body. Potential side effects
include: cardiomyopathy, diabetes, renal failure, and
hepatitis. If not prescribed by a professional, it is a
banned substance in competition per WADA.
Despite its small window for detection, two primary
methods of testing have been developed for hGH,
one being an isoform test which detects changes in
growth hormone structure in the blood, and the
markers test, which detects changes in serum
protein ratios.

4.Adaptogens:
The term "adaptogen" refers to non-toxic plants or
their extracts purported to diminish stress and support
overall wellbeing when consumed. However, the definition
of an adaptogen is vague and without adequate scientific
evidence, making it impossible to determine what exactly
makes a substance an adaptogen.
The concept of an adaptogenic effect is not accepted in
pharmacological or clinical settings, and is not approved for
marketing in the European Union or United States. From
2020 to 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
issued numerous warning letters to manufacturers of
dietary supplements making illegal, unapproved health
claims for products marketed to contain an adaptogen. As
an example in 2020, the FDA issued a warning letter to a
manufacturer of mushroom supplements purported to
contain adaptogens having diverse anti-disease effects,
stating that such products "are not generally recognized as
safe and effective for the above referenced uses and,
therefore, these products are "new drugs" under section
201(p) of the FD&C Act [21 U.S.C. 321(p)]. New drugs may
not be legally introduced or delivered for introduction into
interstate commerce without prior approval from the
FDA."

5.Actoprotectors:
Actoprotectors or synthetic adaptogens are
compounds that enhance an organism's resilience to
physical stress without increasing heat output.
Actoprotectors are distinct from other
performanceenhancing substances in that they increase
physical and psychological resilience via non-exhaustive
action. The term "actoprotector" is used to describe
synthetic and isolated compounds possessing adaptogenic
properties. By contrast, the term "adaptogen" is most often
use to describe a natural herb as a whole, which can contain
hundreds if not thousands of biologically active
components.

The term actoprotector was coined to distinguish between

the pharmacologically distinct mechanism of action of
psychostimulant drugs (especially substituted
phenethylamines) and actoprotectors. Drugs of both classes
can improve resilience to stress, but actoprotectors are
presumed to do so via non-exhaustive action.

For example, at least part of the action of bromantane on

improving physical resiliency is mediated by upregulation of
tyrosine hydroxylase, thereby indirectly increasing
dopaminergic signaling in the brain.The action of
amphetamine (a phenethylamine psychostimulant) on
improving physical resiliency is primarily mediated by
induction of dopamine and norepinephrine release from the
neuronal vesicles. Clinically, it appears that the antiasthenic
effects of amphetamine quickly disappear within 24 hours of
a prior dose, whereas the anti-asthenic effects of
bromantane have been found to persist for at least one
month after treatment cessation.
6.Nootropics:
Nootropics are substances that claim to boost cognitive
function and brain performance. They are sometimes referred to
as "smart drugs," memoryenhancing substances, or
cognitive enhancers.
They may include certain types of prescription medications as
well as nonprescription substances. Nootropics purport to
improve mental functioning, including thinking, memory,
mood, attention, creativity, and motivation.

In some instances, these substances are FDA-approved to treat

symptoms of specific conditions. For example, stimulant
medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity discorder(ADHD)
and medications to treat symptoms of
Alzheimer's are considered nootropics.

7.CNS Agents:
Painkillers/Analgesic:
An analgesic drug, also called simply an
analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any
member of the group of drugs used for pain management.
Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics,
which temporarily reduce, and in some instances eliminate,
sensation, although analgesia and anesthesia are
neurophysiologically overlapping and thus various drugs
have both analgesic and anesthetic effects.

Analgesic choice is also determined by the type of pain: For

neuropathic pain, recent research has suggested that
classes of drugs that are not normally considered analgesics,
such as tricyclic anti-depressants anticonvulsants may be
considered as an alternative.

Various analgesics, such as many NSAIDs, are available over

the counter in most countries, whereas various others are
prescription drugs owing to the substantial risks and high
chances of overdose, misuse, and addiction in the absence
of medical supervision.

Sedative and Anxiolytics:

Sedatives and anxiolytics are used in sports
like archery which require steady hands and accurate aim,
and also to overcome excessive nervousness or discomfort
for more dangerous sports. Diazepam, nicotine, and
propanolol are common examples. Ethanol, the most
commonly used substance by athletes, can be used for
cardiovascular improvements though has significant
detrimental effects. Ethanol was formerly banned by WADA
during performance for athletes performing in aeronautics,
archery, automobile, karate, motorcycling and
powerboating, but was taken off the ban list in 2017. It is
detected by breath or blood testing. Cannabis is banned at
all times for an athlete by WADA, though
performanceenhancing effects have yet to be studied.
Cannabis and nicotine are detected by urine analysis.

8.Blood Boosters/Doping:
Blood doping is a form of doping in which the
number of red blood cells in the bloodstream is boosted in
order to enhance athletic performance. Because such blood
cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, a higher
concentration in the blood can improve an athlete's aerobic
capacity (VO2 max) and endurance. Blood Doping can also
be achieved by making the body produce more red blood
cells using drugs, giving blood transfusions either from
another person or back to the same individual, or by using
blood substitutes.

Many methods of blood doping are illegal, particularly in

professional sports where it is considered to give an
artificial advantage to the competitor. Anti-doping agencies
use tests to try to identify individuals who have been blood
doping using a number of methods, typically by analyzing
blood samples from the competitors.

Erythropoietin:
 Erythropoietin, or EPO, is a hormone that helps
increase the production of red blood cells which increases
the delivery of oxygen to muscles. It is commonly used
among endurance athletes such as cyclists. It functions by
protecting red blood cells against destruction whilst
simultaneously stimulating bone marrow cells to produce
more red blood cells. Potential side effects include:
dehydration and an increase in blood viscosity which could
result in a pulmonary embolism or stroke. Per the WADA, it
is a banned substance. Urine samples can be tested via
electrophoresis, and blood samples via indirect markers.

9.Gene Doping:
Gene doping is the hypothetical non-therapeutic
use of gene therapy by athletes in order to improve their
performance in those sporting events which prohibit such
applications of genetic modification technology, and for
reasons other than the treatment of disease. As of April
2015, there is no evidence that gene doping has been used
for athletic performance-enhancement in any sporting
events. Gene doping would involve the use of gene transfer
to increase or decrease gene expression and protein
biosynthesis of a specific human protein; this could be done
by directly injecting the gene carrier into the person, or by
taking cells from the person, transfecting the cells, and
administering the cells back to the person.
 10.Prohormones:
A prohormone is a committed precursor of a
hormone consisting of peptide hormones synthesized
together that has a minimal hormonal effect by itself
because of its expression-suppressing structure, often
created by protein folding and binding additional peptide
chains to certain ends, that makes hormone receptor
binding sites located on its peptide hormone chain
segments inaccessible. Prohormones can travel the blood
stream as a hormone in an inactivated form, ready to be
activated later in the cell by post translational
modification.

The body naturally produces prohormones as a way to

regulate hormone expression, making them an optimal
storage and transportation unit for inactive hormones. Once
prohormones are needed to be expressed, prohormone
convertase, a protein, cleaves the prohormones and
separates them into one or more active hormones. Often in
nature, this cleaving process happens immediately, and a
prohormone is quickly converted to a set of one or more
peptide hormones.

Examples of natural, human prohormones include

proinsulin and pro-opiomelanocortin, but the most
widespread prohormones in use are synthetic and labeled
as anabolic steroid precursors, used as ergogenic or
anabolic agents for muscle growth. A commonly consumed
example of said precursors are androstenedione and
androstenediol, both of which are currently banned
substances in the United States. However, several illegal
steroids, such as 1teststerone, are still being produced
legally under different chemical names, and the majority
have not undergone clinical
studies.

HISTORY:
While the use of PEDs has expanded in recent times,
the practice of using substances to improve performance
has been around since the Ancient Olympics Games. In the
Olympic Games of 668 BC, Charmis had consumed a diet
consisting of dried figs which was a significant factor in
winning the 200-yard stade race. Ancient Greek athletes at
the time also incorporated stimulants such as wine and
brandy into their training routines. Stimulants derived from
plants (e.g., Cola Nitida, Bufotein etc.) were used by the
Roman Gladiators to overcome injuries and fatigue.

In the late 19th century as modern medicine and

pharmacology were developing, PEDs saw an increase in
use. Supplements were now exclusively being used to
enhance muscular work capacity. The main stimulants
being used included alcoholics drinks, caffeine, and
mixtures created by the athletic trainers (e.g., strychnine
tablets made of cocaine and brandy). Testosterone was also
a commonly taken stimulant, however, it was more difficult
to obtain. In 1889, a three-week program began where an
athlete injected themselves with blood from the testicular
veins, semen, and fluids from the testicles of a dog or guinea
pig. By 1895, it had been assessed that testicular extracts
did in fact improve athletic performance by increasing
muscular strength.

In the 20th century, testosterone was isolated and

characterized by scientists. In 1941, the first record of
synthesized testosterone use occurred when a horse was
given testosterone which successfully improved its race
performance Sports trainers soon after began advocating
for testosterone use. Images of bodybuilders with massive
muscles began circulating which further perpetuated a
desire among athletes to use testosterone. In 1967, the
first prohibited susbstance list and anti-doping measures
were implemented at the 1968 Olympics.

In the 1980s, the main PEDs were cortisone and anabolic

steroids. In 1988, the United States Congress established the
Anti-Drug Abuse Act to criminalize the distribution and
possession of non-medical anabolic steroids. In 1999,
WADA was formed to address the escalating use of
substances in sports, particularly after the 1998 doping
scandal in cycling.
 DOES IT REALLY ENHANCE PERFORMANCE ?
PEDs may offer numerous benefits to competitors or
athletes in sports. Benefits can include increasing strength,
speed, or endurance (through ergogenic drugs) or by altering
body weight or body composition. These drugs may also
improve performance by causing changes in
behavior, arousal level, or perception of pain.
Some most common benefits are enlisted below:
Increased muscle strength and body size - Studies
reveal that athletes who use anabolic steroids get larger and
stronger muscles. The results show that anabolic steroids help
in strength training in steroid taking groups by increasing
muscle size by both hypertrophy (increased size) and the
formation of new muscle fibers. The administration of anabolic
androgen steroids induces sustained morphological changes
in human skeletal muscle, leading to enhancement in
physical performance.

Increased healing rate - Studies state that there is a

wellrecognized interrelationship between hormones,
nutrition, and wound healing rate. Exogenous administration
of anabolic hormones stimulates the healing process through
their anabolic and anti-catabolic actions. Wound healing
requires restoration or improvement in net protein synthesis,
which is completely offered by these
agents.

Health benefits - The PEDs are generally designed to

promote health, in order to impart positive effects. For
example, they can reduce inflammation caused by allergies
or certain sickness. They also have beneficial effects on
quality of life and improved physical functioning.
RISK FACTORS:
1.Anabolic Steroids:
Many athletes take anabolic steroids at doses
that are too high. These doses are much higher than those
that health care providers use for medical reasons.
Anabolic steroids have serious side effects too.

Men may:

• See their breasts grow.

• Notice their testicles shrink.
• Not be able to get their partner pregnant.
• Learn from a health care provider that their prostate
gland has gotten bigger. Women may:
• Get a deeper voice. Treatment may not be able to
change it back.
• Notice that a part of their genitals called the clitoris
has gotten bigger.
• Grow more body hair.
• Lose the hair on the head. Treatment might not be
able to bring the hair back.
• Stop getting periods or get them much less often
than they used to.
All people who use anabolic steroids might start to get: •

Severe acne.
• A higher risk of swollen or torn cords in the body

called tendons, which attach muscle to bone.

• Liver tumors, or other changes to the liver.
 • Higher levels of the "bad" cholesterol, called
lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
• Lower levels of the "good" cholesterol, called

highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

• High blood pressure.

• Problems with the heart and blood flow.

• Issues with anger or violence.

• Mental health conditions, such as depression.

• A need for anabolic steroids that can't be controlled.

• Diseases, such as HIV or hepatitis, if using needles to

give shots of the drugs.

Teens who take anabolic steroids might grow less than
usual too. They also might raise their risk of health
problems later in life.
Doping with anabolic steroids is banned by most sports
leagues and groups. And it is not legal. It's never safe to buy
anabolic steroids from a drug dealer. The drugs could be
tainted or labeled the wrong way.

2.Androstenedione:
Side effects of andro in men include:

• Acne.
• Testicles that shrink or make less sperm.

• Breast growth.

Side effects in women include:

• Acne.
• Deeper voice.
• Loss of hair on the head.
Andro can damage the heart and blood vessels in anyone
who takes it. This raises the risk of a serious problem that
can happen when the heart doesn't get enough blood, called
a heart attack. It also raises the risk of a condition that keeps
the brain from getting enough oxygen, called a stroke. Heart
attack and stroke can be deadly.

3.Human Growth Hormone(hGH):

Side effects linked to human growth hormone
may include:
• Pain in joints, where two or more bones come
together.
• Muscles that feel weak.
• A buildup of extra fluid in the body.
• A condition that affects how the body uses sugar for
energy. This is called diabetes.
• Trouble seeing.
• A problem that can make the hand and the arm get
weak, tingle or lose feeling. This is called carpal
tunnel syndrome.
• Trouble controlling blood sugar.
• A heart that grows bigger than usual, called
cardiomegaly.
• High blood pressure.

4.Erythropoetin:
In the 1990s, it was common for pro cyclists
to use erythropoietin. But the drug may have played a
role in at least 18 deaths. Doping
with erythropoietin may raise the risk of serious
 health problems. These include stroke, heart attack
and
blocked arteries in the lung.

5.Diuretics:
Diuretics can cause side effects when you
take them at any dose — even at doses that health care
providers suggest. These drugs make athletes more likely
to have side effects such as:
• Losing more fluids than you take in. This is a serious

problem called dehydration.

• Squeezing pain in muscles called cramps.

• Feeling faint, woozy, weak or not steady.

• Being low on a mineral called potassium, which the

body needs to work well.

• Having a drop in blood pressure.

• Feeling clumsy when you move and having trouble

keeping your balance.

Diuretics can lead to death if an athlete uses them for

doping.

6.Creatine:
Side effects creatine can include gaining
weight and cramps in the belly or muscles.Some athletes try
to gain weight so they can get bigger in size. Creatine may
help you put on weight over time. But that might be due to
the extra water that creatine causes the body to hold on to.
Water is drawn into muscle tissue, away from other parts of
the body. That puts you at risk of getting dehydrated.
Studies show that it's safe for healthy adults to use creatine
for a short or long time. It's important to use the doses that
creatine makers suggest on the package.

7.Stimulants:
Stimulants have side effects that can make
an athlete play worse, such as:
• Lowered focus due to feeling nervous or angry.

• Trouble sleeping.

• Dehydration.
• Heatstroke, which happens when the body gets too
hot and can't cool down.
• Addiction to stimulants, or needing higher doses to
feel the effects.
Other side effects include:
• A feeling that the heart is beating fast, fluttering or
pounding.
• A heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or out of
rhythm.
• Weight loss.
• A type of shaking called tremors.
• High blood pressure.
• The sensation of seeing things that aren't there,
called hallucination.
• Stroke.
• Heart attack or other problems with blood flow.
HOW DOES DOPING WORKS ?
Be it any sport, initially before the process of doping,
urine sample of the sportsperson is being collected and
freezed, this urine comes in handy when they are tested later.
After this, every player’s body type and performance is
analysed and based on the results, he/she is given a
timetable. Player must adhere to this time table while taking
PEDs, hormones etc., through injections and pills.
Even a slight deviation can be very harmful to one’s health,
probably could be fatal.

After the process, gradually, with each passing week, an

improvement in the player’s performance can be noticed.
Players can not be seen exhausted and in the situation to
recover from an injury in two to three days, PEDs helps in
making it easy.

Urine samples would be tested in GDPA(Global Doping

Prevention Authority) Lab in the case of any suspicion and
allegation on any player cheating in the sport, through
doping.

How Doping Test Takes Place ?

1.Normally, urine sample is taken of 90 ml
sample, of which 60 ml is sample A and 30 ml is sample B.

2.First, sample A is tested.

3.If sample A is tested positive, then sample B is
also tested.
4.It is done to confirm that whether the player
had done doping to enhance his/her performance.
Precaution:
Two samples are stored in special bottles, if by any
chance, if the seal is broken, it is impossible to reseal the
bottle.
DOPING SCANDALS:
1. 1967:Cyclist Tom Simpson dies after Tour de
France:

British cyclist Tom Simpson passed away during the Tour de

France on July 13, 1967, as he pedaled up Mont Ventoux on an
extremely hot day. Simpson's cause of death was listed as a heart
attack due to dehydration. However, there were tubes of
amphetamines in his jersey and an autopsy found traces of
amphetamines.

International Cycling Union ban on the use of performance-

enhancing drugs in cycling.
 2.1970’s and 80’s: German Government forces its
Athletes to use Steroids:

At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, the East German women's

swim team won 11 gold medals out of a possible 13,
contributing to an overall haul of 40 gold medals.

Competitors and observers suspected the East Germans

were taking steroids, but state resources were used to
continue and cover up the doping program. All in all, at least
9,000 athletes were given performance-enhancing drugs.
Following German reunification in 1990, some perpetrators
of the doping scheme were tried and found guilty. However,
this didn't erase the price paid by athletes, many of whom
had been left with lifelong health problems, including heart
disease, infertility and cancer.
 3. 1988: Track star Ben Johnson tests positive for
Steroids:

When Canadian track star Ben Johnson won gold in the

100m at the Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea on
September 24, 1988, he not only established a new world
record but also defeated his American rival, Carl Lewis. Then
Johnson tested positive for the steroid stanozolol. In the face
of this evidence, he returned his gold medal, which then
went to Lewis.

4.1994: Diego Maradona’s ephedrine use

eliminates the soccer player from World Cup:
Argentinian soccer player Diego Maradona, who'd led his
team to victory in 1986's World Cup, tested positive for five
different variants of ephedrine at the 1994 World Cup.
Though he'd been suspended for 15 months in 1991-92 due
to cocaine use, Maradona had seemed to be aming a
comeback: he'd lost 26 pounds to get ready for the
tournament and had demonstrated his continued abilities
with a goal and an assist in the first round
Instead of continuing to represent his home country,
Maradona made news for being tossed out of the
competition. His career lasted a few more years, but he
never played for Argentina again.

5. 1998: The Festina cycling team was caught doping

in Tour de France:
During a border search in Lille, a French town near
Belgium, the Festina cycling team's masseur was found to be
transporting amphetamines, erythropoietin and steroids, all
performance-enhancing substances. Police searches, raids
and arrests were set in motion by this discovery, even as the
Festina team began to compete in 1998's Tour de France.

The team ended up being expelled from the race. The

scandal became one of the factors in the creation of the
World Anti-Doping Agency in 1999.

6.2003: The BALCO scandal:

In October 2003, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced

that the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), which
had been undetectable to tests, was used by a number of
athletes. It was a tipster—later revealed to be the former
coach of track star Marion Jones—who had informed
investigators earlier in the year about the existence of THG,
and that the source was the Bay Area Laboratory Co-
operative, called BALCO, and its founder, Victor Conte.
In 2007, Jones admitted to using steroids. She surrendered
the five medals—three gold and two bronze—she'd been
awarded at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. In 2008,
she was sentenced to six months in prison for lying to federal
investigators about her steroid use.
 7. 2012: Cyclist Lance Armstrong was stripped off
his Tour de France titles:

American cyclist Lance Armstrong won seven Tour de

France titles in a row from 1999 to 2005. His wins made him
famous, and the fact that he accomplished this as a cancer
survivor earned him even more plaudits.
Along the way, questions were asked about his possible use
of performance-enhancing drugs, but no charges stuck. Then
in 2010, Floyd Landis, a former teammate who'd been
involved in his own doping scandal, accused Armstrong of
doping.
In 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency charged Armstrong
with the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong
ultimately didn't contest the charges, which resulted in the
loss of his Tour de France titles and a ban from the sport of
cycling.
 8. 2013: Biogenesis scandal reveals doping in the
MLB

In January 2013, news broke that Biogenesis, a Florida-

based rejuvenation clinic, had been supplying several Major
League Baseball players with human growth hormone and other
performance-enhancing drugs.

MLB investigated and proceeded to suspend more than a

dozen players. Most were out for 50 games, while right
fielder Ryan Braun received a 65-game suspension and
Yankees star Alex Rodriguez was suspended for 211 games
(this was reduced to 162 games on appeal).The scandal
resulted in MLB promising to institute tougher penalties and
more frequent testing.
 9. 2021 and 22: Russia’s Olympic ban for state
sponsored drug:

In December 2019, after receiving manipulated test

results from the Moscow lab, the World Anti-Doping Agency
imposed a four-year ban on Russia for the Olympic Games
and world championship sporting events. This was reduced
to a two-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in
2020. Russian athletes were able to compete at the 2021 and
2022 Olympic Games, but not under the Russian flag or with
their country's anthem.
BIBLOGRAPHY:

• Performance-enhancing substance - Wikipedia

• Performance-enhancing drugs: Know the risks - Mayo Clinic
• Inside Edge (TV Series)-Amazon Prime Video