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Health-Related Health History

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History of Health-related Problems The health-related problems developed by athletes are often raised as the main reason against the usage of performance-enhancing substances. However, there are a zillion different drugs available on the market that allows athletes to make a positive difference in their performances. According to the definition of a PED stated earlier, Tylenol, a widely spread drug available to the general public, would fall under one of them. Indeed, since it “relieve[s] muscle aches after a hard workout or […] prevent[s] the constriction of the airway and to allow proper respiration” (Lee 4), it improves the athletic performance of an athlete. Like other substances such as Vitamin E or iron, those apparently can be revealed …show more content…

The first case that raised questions about the danger of PEDs happened in 1904 at the Olympic Games of St. Louis. Thomas Hicks was running a marathon race when he arrived first at the finish line and suddenly collapsed. He would have died if it was not for the four doctors that revived him. During the race, he was given multiple doses of brandy laced with strychnine (Lee 9), and it was speculated that one more dose would have been fatal. Nonetheless, he was still awarding champion and won the gold medal. Back then, there had not been any regulations concerning the usage of ergonomics substances and its culture was popular amongst sportspersons. Hicks’ story and other similar ones will have the impact of lowering doses or eliminating the use of stimulants like strychnine because professionals got scared, and the rewards were inferior. In 1928, “the first attempt to prohibit doping was made by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF)” (Lee 11), and resulted ineffective because no test were conducted. Then, came the World War II, and Nazi Germany. German scientist had discovered anabolic steroids, and they dominated the 1936 Olympic Games. During the Cold War, an athletic battle was witnessed between Russia and the United States which was won the

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