The devil in dope

WHY THEY DO IT Drugs can reduce body fat, recovery time after injury, and give an athlete a dramatic performance boost: In an Olympics the d...

WHY THEY DO IT

Drugs can reduce body fat, recovery time after injury, and give an athlete a dramatic performance boost: In an Olympics the difference between first and last place—in the 100 m sprint—is usually just 0.3 secs.

THE LAWS

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says banned substances found in men should not be more than 2 nanogrammes/ml and for women 5 nanogrammes/ml

THE FAVOURITES

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Nandrolone: Taken orally, it’s used by swimmers and athletes. Famous culprits: Marion Jones, Linford Christie, Merlene Ottey, Petr Korda

Androstenedione: Injected, it’s a steroid hormone that builds muscles fast

Erythroprotein: Injected by track-and-field athletes to enrich their blood

Tetrahydrogestrinone: Called designer steroids, they are injected to help reduce fatigue and increase power

Diuretics: Pills used to mask other drugs and help become lighter in weight-based events like weightlifting

PENALTY

Varies in each discipline

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What’s common: Being thrown out of the Games Village

What’s not: The period of ban. In weightlifting, two years; in swimming between one and four years

INDIA: WOEFULLY UNPREPARED

The only drug-testing lab is at the Sports Authority of India’s Delhi centre, but it isn’t recognised internationally. The lab does not abide by international norms and so the IOC does not recognise it. There are 32 accredited laboratories worldwide.