What a dope: Five sporting scandals involving drugs

Chris Froome has hit back at suggestions he has taken performance enhancing drugs during this year’s Tour de France.

Doping scandals in sport are nothing new. Lu Rahman looks at some of the substances taken by sports stars in a bid to boost performance.

Hydrochlorothiazide and steroids

Taken by: Ben Johnson

Despite scooping the 100m bronze medal in the 1984 Olympic Games, Johnson took a little trip to the drug store before the 1987 games to help beat Carl Lewis.

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HCT or HZT), is a diuretic often used to treat high blood pressure and swelling due to fluid build up.

Erythropoietin (EPO), testosterone and cortisone 

Taken by: Lance Armstrong

In an interview on the Discovery Channel, Armstrong admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs erythropoietin (EPO), testosterone, cortisone and human growth hormone as well as having blood transfusions.

Nandrolone

Taken by: Linford Christie

In 1999 Christie was found guilty of using the performance-enhancing drug nandrolone, following a doping test. He said the substance could have entered his system through legal supplements.

Hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride

Taken by: Shane Warne

In the run-up to the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Aussie spin-bowler Shane Warne was sent home after a testing positive to diuretics hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride. Warne said he had been a tablet by his mother to help with weight issues.

Ephedrine

Taken by: Diego Maradona

In 1991 Maradona failed a doping test for cocaine playing for Napoli. He saw out his ban and was included in the squad for the 1994 World Cup. However, when he was pictured with bulging eyes after scoring a goal, he was tested again and tested positive for ephedrine.