Recent scandal involving Maria Sharapova’s failed drugs doping test has highlighted the fine line between medication (meds) prescribed for illness and performance enhancing drugs (PEDs)
EPM takes a look at some medications which, while cleared by different medical boards across the world, feature on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances.
Meldonium
Meds: This drug is used to treat the effects of heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis and diabetes, according to The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
PEDs: Meldonium appears on the WADA prohibited list under Hormone and Metabolic Modulator. This drug helps athletes by acting as an energy efficiency catalyst that increases oxygen uptake, enhancing stamina and endurance during competition.
Insulin-mimetics
Meds: This medication is a type of oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA) that helps people with diabetes bring their blood sugar levels down.
PEDs: Insulin-mimetics also appears on the WADA prohibited list under Hormone and Metabolic Modulator. These drug acts like insulin but do not build fat and provide athletes with more glucose in their cells, giving them more energy.
Gonadorelin
Meds: This drug is used to check whether the pituitary gland is producing LH and FSH in the correct levels. This can help in the diagnosis of various hormonal disorders, including infertility and delayed puberty, according to NetDoctor.
PEDs: Gonadorelin also appears on the WADA prohibited list under Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and mimetics. This dug helps the body to produce testosterone which enables better muscle growth helping athletes to run faster, hit harder, etc.
Clenbuterol
Meds: This drug is used to help people who suffer from breathing disorders such as asthma and COPD as it eases breathing.
PEDs: Clenbuterol appears on the WADA prohibited list under Anabolic Agents. This drug causes an increase in athletes’ aerobic capacity, central nervous system stimulation, blood pressure and oxygen transportation abilities.
Desmopressin
Meds: This drug can be given to children who are having issues with bedwetting or people with diabetes insipidus who have diluted urine.
PEDs: Desmopressin appears on the WADA prohibited list under Diuretics and Masking Agents. This drug reduces the amount of urine that the kidneys produce for about eight hours after it is taken, so helps athletes who compete in time-sensitive sports such as a triathlon.
