Training and Doping in Sports
Domain focus
Training and doping tests the principles and methods of training, the components of load, and the WADA anti-doping framework. Expect applied programme design and prohibited-list classification.
Core concepts
- Principles: overload, specificity, progression, reversibility, recovery, variation, individuality.
- Methods: continuous, interval, fartlek, circuit, weight/resistance, plyometric, flexibility training.
- Load variables: intensity, volume, frequency, rest.
- Doping: use of prohibited substances or methods; WADA publishes the Prohibited List; categories include anabolic agents, peptide hormones, beta-2 agonists, hormone modulators, diuretics, stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids and glucocorticoids.
- Controls: Therapeutic Use Exemption, Athlete Biological Passport, whereabouts, sample collection, sanctions.
- Ethics: doping violates fair play and health.
Worked example
A 400 m runner needs speed endurance. A suitable session is 8 × 200 m at slightly faster than race pace with 2–3 minutes recovery. Reasoning: specificity - the race demands repeated high-intensity efforts; overload - the pace and volume stress the relevant energy system; recovery - incomplete but controlled, so quality is maintained. A continuous 45-minute jog would not meet specificity.
Traps
- Treating all supplements as permitted; contamination is common.
- Thinking a TUE allows any banned substance at any dose.
- Applying strength training to a marathon runner without specificity.
- Confusing doping with only 'street drugs'.