HSCI 180 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Balco Scandal, Silken Laumann, Strychnine
3 May 2016
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Document Summary
Athletes are role models for young people. Drugs may provide an unfair advantage during competition, contrary to our tradition or fair play in sports. Athletes at all levels of ability may risk their health or lives by taking drugs. May not have provided any true physical performance enhancement. Could have placebo value that boosted a competitor"s self-confidence. Ancient greek olympians and aztec athletes used plant-based stimulants. Athletic competitions probably developed in tribal societies as a means of training for war. At low doses = a cns stimulant. At higher doses = convulsions and death. Use reported in boxers, possibly to make them more aggressive and keep them from tiring quickly. Fuelled by a mixture of brandy and strychnine. Collapsed and had to be revived after the race. Some use of strychnine in world competition may have continued into the 1960s.
