Michael Walden

Human Growth hormone (hGH) is also sometimes known as somatotrophic hormone or somatotrophin. It is produced by the pituitary gland and is essential for normal growth and development. hGH is anabolic, meaning it accelerates protein synthesis and also aids the metabolism (breaking down) of fat stores.  Medical Uses of Human Growth Hormone The uses of

What is Adrenocorticotropic Hormone? Adrenocorticotropic hormone is a polypeptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It is sometimes also known as Corticotrophin or Adrenocorticotrophin. ACTH stimulates the release of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and steroid hormones (or androgens) from the adrenal glands. Medical Uses of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ACTH is mainly used in tests to diagnose conditions of

Blood doping is defined by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) as the misuse of techniques and/or substances to increases one’s red blood cell count. Most commonly this involves the removal of two units (approximately 2 pints!) of the athlete’s blood several weeks prior to competition. The blood is then frozen until 1-2 days before the competition

Amphetamines are stimulants which act on the central nervous system to delay fatigue and increase alertness. Medical Uses of Amphetamines ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) Narcolepsy (a neurological condition resulting in disturbed night-time sleep and periods of excessive daytime sleepiness) Chronic fatigue syndrome (a poorly understood condition characterised by muscle and joint pain, cognitive difficulty, and chronic mental

The use of drugs in sports with the aim of improving performance is a major problem for sports governing bodies. This, however, is not a new phenomenon. Drugs have been used to enhance performance since ancient times. Greek and Roman civilisations used mushrooms and herbs to improve their performance. Later in the 19th-century substances including

Diuretics (sometimes called water pills) are drugs including Frusemide, Chlorothiazide, and Hydrochlorothiazide. Their purpose is to remove excess water from the body although each type of diuretic does this in a different way. Medical Uses of Diuretics Diuretics are used in the treatment of a number of medical conditions including: Hypertension (high blood pressure) Oedema

Drug testing has become an increasingly large part of both professional and amateur sports. An athlete can be called for drug testing at any time, in or out of competition. During competition, some sports only carry out drug testing on the winning team or top three competitors. Others will test by random selection from all

The prohibited substances list is a list of all drugs, supplements and other substances and methods which are banned from use in sports. WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) is responsible for maintaining and updating this list. Note the list below may not be up to date! Some substances are banned only during competition, while others depend