Caffeine as an Ergogenic Aid | MyPaperHub

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional articles


The manner in which migration and immigration shaped both communities in postwar Chicago

The Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are easy to neglect from the urban historical accounts since they fall outside of any binary understandings of race. Their experiences are rendered insignificant from those of the African Americans as well as the Eur...The-manner-in-which-migration-and-immigration-shaped-both-communities-in-postwar-Chicago …

Read Article
Human trafficking Menace

Introduction One of the significant accomplishments in the history of civil war and revolutions is the ability and also the fact that slavery was abolished decades ago. However, slavery is still present in communities and globally in the conte...Human-trafficking-Menace …

Read Article
It May Not Work in Politics

Congressional EthicsMs. Maxine Waters was in 2010 charged with violation of three congressional ethic. One of the charges was the violation of the Code of Ethics for Government Service. The second charge was that she had violated a house rule. The...It-May-Not-Work-in-Politics …

Read Article
Let's give your paper the attention it deserves