Athletic Performance

Articles about performance enhancing substances and methods used in sports and athletics. Topics include legal supplements, banned substances, and the effects of various drugs on athletic ability.

Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids boost testosterone but carry serious health risks including high blood pressure, dangerous cholesterol changes and infections from injection.

Athletic Performance: Dos and Don'ts

Get practical training tips on warming up, stretching, hydration and tracking progress to improve your athletic performance.

Blood Doping/Blood Packing

Blood doping increases oxygen-carrying red blood cells through EPO, transfusions, or synthetic substances to boost athletic performance.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Conjugated linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid found in meat and dairy that some athletes use to boost performance and build muscle.

Creatine

Creatine is a natural compound that boosts muscle energy and performance, found in foods and supplements to increase strength during physical activity.

Ephedra

Ephedra is a plant-based substance used in medicine for thousands of years that can improve breathing, heart function and athletic performance.

How Your Performance Is Affected by Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers lower your heart rate and adrenaline, which helps with precision sports like shooting but can hurt overall athletic performance.

Insulin Use

Insulin helps build muscle and boost endurance, but using it without medical need can cause serious health problems.

Protein Drinks

Protein drinks can help build muscle and aid recovery, but they're not a substitute for eating well and exercising regularly.

Sports Performance Drinks

Sports drinks replace fluids and electrolytes lost during intense exercise to keep your body hydrated and performing well.

Testing for Drug Misuse

How sports organisations test athletes for banned drugs and why these screenings protect both fairness and player health.

Thermogenic Compounds and Fat Loss

How thermogenic compounds are supposed to work for fat loss and what the science actually shows about their effectiveness.

Using Diuretics

Diuretics are prescription medications for health conditions, but some people misuse them to improve performance with serious health risks.

Using Human Growth Hormones

Human growth hormones boost muscle recovery and strength but carry legal and health risks when used without medical need.

Vitamin C: What It Can and Cannot Do

Vitamin C supports collagen and connective tissue, but the claims about curing colds and cancer don't hold up to scrutiny.