Performance-enhancing drugs

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Performance-enhancing drugs are substances used by athletes to improve their performances in the sports in which they engage.

As they have become more widely used and sophisticated, various sports organizations have banned their use, developed testing and enforcement procedures to prevent athletes from using these drugs, and penalized athletes caught using these drugs.

Examples of performance-enhancing drugs include steroids such as cortisone, as well as natural substances such as the athlete's own blood. Using their own blood to enhance their performance, athletes perform what is known as "blood packing", that is, taking around 2 pints of blood from the body 2 weeks prior to the meet, or match that they are training for, and keeping t stored. The night before the big match, they re-inject the blood back into their bloodstream, thereby having 50% more red blood cells, and enabling them to perform better. This method of performance enhancement is almost impossible to detect, unless it is actually witnessed. After the ahtlete is done with his or her sport for the day, the 2 pints are taken out once again and disposed of.