 Chemical Health Rule Wellness Advisory Committee Newsletters
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Belief #2: "Some chemicals will give a competitive edge at the time of a game or contest."
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Amphetamines work by stimulating the central nervous system, which results in increased heart and respiratory rates, decreased sense of fatigue, elevation of mood and an increase in activity levels.
The specific effects of amphetamines depend on many factors, including weight, state of health, and mood.
Amphetamines tend to mask pain and may increase the risk of serious injury to the athlete. An athlete may not recognize the extent of an injury received while feeling the effects of amphetamines.
Amphetamines can negatively affect timing in those athletic events which require specifically timed skills or coordinated effort by a team.
Amphetamines affect judgment and may help an athlete believe that she/he is performing better than usual when actually there is no improvement.
The use of amphetamines is banned by rules of international competition.
Amphetamines have been consistently shown to negatively affect physical performance. Yet some athletes believe that the decreased sense of fatigue and mood elevation are beneficial to performance. The risks and consequences of use are clear and most athletes recognize the potential costs of amphetamine use.