Abstract

When an athlete competes, he may be subjected to the effects of a number of physical stressors such as heat, cold, pain, injury and excessive physiological demands. The same conditions also often hold during training. Drugs which can be used in this respect can be classified as either restorative or addivite. Restorative drugs are those used by athletes who - for one reason or another - are incapacitated. The drugs are given with the intent to restore - partly or completely - the competitors normal prowess. Additive drugs are used with the motive of stimulating performance beyond natural limits. The use of the first type of drugs is usually allowed whilst the administration of the second group is generally banned. But very often, in individual cases, a clear discrimination cannot be made between the two groups, which implies that the use of non-banneddrugs could be sometimes qualified as deliberate doping. The medical and ethical issues related to these matters are discussed. Moreover, an athlete takes - or is given by his supervisors, medical and otherwise - many drugs that he would not take or be given if he were not an athlete. And the rationale for much athletic drug use is unique, for the drugs are not taken either with the intention or effect of improving or maintaining health, or to achiev a pleasurable sensation, but rather because the athlete or those around him believe he will perform better with drugs than without. The medical and ethical issues related to these matters are also discussed. Verf.-Referat