ABSTRACT
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 135 8.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 136 8.2 Caffeine ................................................................................................................................ 136
8.2.1 History ...................................................................................................................... 136 8.2.2 Overview ................................................................................................................... 136 8.2.3 Effects on Performance ............................................................................................ 137 8.2.4 Legal Status .............................................................................................................. 138 8.2.5 Summary .................................................................................................................. 138
8.3 Nicotine................................................................................................................................. 138 8.3.1 History ...................................................................................................................... 138 8.3.2 Overview ................................................................................................................... 139 8.3.3 Effect on Performance .............................................................................................. 139 8.3.4 Legal Status .............................................................................................................. 141 8.3.5 Summary .................................................................................................................. 141
8.4 Ethanol (Alcohol) .................................................................................................................. 142 8.4.1 History ...................................................................................................................... 142 8.4.2 Overview ................................................................................................................... 142 8.4.3 Effects on Health and Performance .......................................................................... 142 8.4.4 Legal Status .............................................................................................................. 144 8.4.5 Summary .................................................................................................................. 144
8.5 Marijuana .............................................................................................................................. 145 8.5.1 History ...................................................................................................................... 145 8.5.2 Overview ................................................................................................................... 145 8.5.3 Effects on Performance ............................................................................................ 145 8.5.4 Legal Status .............................................................................................................. 146 8.5.5 Summary .................................................................................................................. 146
8.6 Drug Interactions .................................................................................................................. 146 8.7 Conclusion and Perspectives ................................................................................................. 147 References ...................................................................................................................................... 147
other drugs are also used extensively. Smoked tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, and marijuana (cannabis) smoking are addictive and exhibit adverse health effects. These drugs are not only common in the general population, but have also made their way into elite sports because of their purported performance-altering potential. Only one of the drugs (i.e., caffeine) has enough scientic evidence indicating an ergogenic effect. There is some preliminary evidence for nicotine as an ergogenic aid, but further study is required; cannabis and alcohol can exhibit ergogenic potential under specic circumstances but are in general believed to be ergolytic for sports performance. These drugs are currently (THC, ethanol) or have been (caffeine) on the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency or are being monitored (caffeine, nicotine) due to their potential ergogenic or ergolytic effects. Throughout this chapter, the terms “alcohol” and “marijuana” will be used to refer to ethanol and tetrahydrocannabinol, respectively. The aim of this chapter is to evaluate the effects of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana by (1) examining evidence supporting the ergogenic or ergolytic effects; (2) providing an overview of the mechanism(s) of action and physiological effects; and (3) where appropriate, reviewing their impact as performance-altering aids used in recreational and elite sports.
