Post 3. Doping

 Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about doping. 

 First, doping is the administration or use by an athlete of any foreign substance and dishonestly enhancing his or her performance in competition. There are a few organizations that regulate doping, but the most important is the world anti-doping agency. The WADA was established in 1999 and their vision is "a world where all athletes can participate in a doping.free sporting environment".

Then, what about the control doping process? This control consists in five phases, which are:

- ATHLETES SELECTION: You can be chosen in a competition or out of competition. In competition, you can be chosen by a random selection, based on finishing position or by being a target for, particularly reason.

- ATHLETES NOTIFICATION: If you are selected for testing, the DCO (which means doping controller official) will show in front of you and explain all the process.

- SAMPLE COLLECTING: Basically, they took a urine sample from you or a blood sample. The sample will go to an accredited laboratory.

- SAMPLE ANALYSIS: When the sample arrives at the laboratory, it will be open and analyzed.

- RESULTS MANAGEMENTS: When the analysis is finished, the laboratory reports the results to the organizations anti-doping. If you are negative, all good! If you are positive, well, you will be banned. (You may appeal the judgement, however, there is a high possibility that the results won't change).

These are three types of prohibited substances and methods in sports. All of this is in a prohibited list that they update every year.

- PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES: Substances and methods that you simply cannot take in sport. One example is hormones, like testosterone.

- PROHIBITED IN-COMPETITION: Which means that they can be used during training. Like cannabis.

- PROHIBITED IN PARTICULAR SPORTS: Beta blockers are banned in sports such as archery and shooting because they regulate heart pressure and lower stress.

And finally, there is a very famous case of positive doping, that is Lance Armstrong. He was a cyclist, winner of the Tour de France on seven consecutive occasions (from 1999 to 2005). But, eventually, he was accused of systematic doping, and the USADA (USAnti-doping Agency) decided to withdraw all of his victories in addition to suspending him for life. He admitted to using EPO (a stimulant), testosterone and blood transfusions (!).

That's it, thank you for reading!