The National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) prohibits the use of caffeine because it
falls under the category of stimulants, which are banned substances. The
standard level for the allocation of caffeine consumption is 14 micrograms per
milliliter and anything above that level will be considered a fail in the drug
test due to enhancing performance by the excessive usage of caffeine. It is
recommended for athletes to stop using caffeine even in small quantities
because of differences in metabolism, which may alter the rate of caffeine
clearance in the body.
Some
athletes use caffeine as a masking agent, to expedite the excretion of other
banned ergogenic aids. (Emily Shelton April 4 2013). When an athlete uses
coffee, feelings of fatigue are delayed through the blocking of receptors for
adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter related with causing sleep. This makes
the athlete to have stamina that can keep them going for a long period of time
without getting fatigued. The limitations on caffeine usage started in 1984,
during the Los Angeles Summer Games. Caffeine is mostly ingested in tea and
coffee but can also be found in chocolate, some energy drinks, beverages and
over the counter pills. (National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2017).
The
negative side effects of caffeine ingestion can be as fatal as cardiac symptoms
like heart palpitations when one consumes about 400 mg of caffeine. (Eric
Adelson 2012).
Ergogenic aid |
Action |
Research on ergogenic effects |
Side effects |
Legality |
Caffeine |
·
Increases
contraction of muscles ·
Aerobic
endurance ·
Enhances
fat metabolism |
Supports |
Mild |
Legal to urine levels of 12-15 μg per mL |
Alcohol |
·
Decreases
anxiety |
No
benefits |
Significant
|
Banned
for school events |
Anabolic steroids |
·
Increase
in strength, motivation and mass |
positive |
Significant Dangerous |
Illegal |
Antioxidants |
·
Decrease
muscle breakdown |
Mixed No
clear benefits |
Mild
at high doses |
Legal
|
The following table shows a research
carried out on certain ergogenic aids, their effects, side effects and actions.
(DALE
M. AHRENDT, M.D 2001 Mar 1)
Although
caffeine has mild side effects, it has been banned by the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) because it enhances the performance of athletes,
leading to unfair competition.
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