Doping, Performance-Enhancing Drugs, and Hormones in Sport

Doping, Performance Enhancing Drugs, and Hormones in Sport: Mechanisms of Action and Methods of Detection is the latest title in the Emerging Issues in Analytical Chemistry series. The book examines the biochemistry and bioanalytical aspects of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and other questionable procedures used by athletes to enhance performance. It informs the specialist of emerging knowledge and techniques and allows the non-specialist to grasp the underlying science and current practice of the discipline relatively quickly. Unlike most books on the subject, which are monumental, difficult to wade through and appropriate only for specialists, this short format volume will give you a grasp of the scientific concepts of how performance enhancers work, how they are used and how they are detected and masked from detection. The book provides background on prevalence, types of agents, their actual or supposed benefits and their negative effects on health. The technical aspects of detection (the athlete catch) are discussed, followed by a discussion of why detection is a problematic and still-evolving science. To ease comprehension, each chapter is organized in a uniform way with five sections: (1) standard medical uses, (2) why they are used by athletes, (3) biological mechanism of action, (4) what research says about efficacy in improving performance and (5) major health side effects from use and abuse in sport. Features clear, concise and compelling prose appropriate for a broad spectrum of readers-language that is neither simplistic to scientists nor too sophisticated for a large, diverse global audience Embeds key points in each chapter to fix the matter in the reader's mind Offers one-page close-ups in each chapter illustrating key topics to catch, engage, entertain and create a novel synthesis of thought Presents the scientific concepts of how performance enhancers work, how they are used and how they are detected and masked from detection