Athletes using Viagra for performance boost

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Viagra, which was originally created as a heart drug, became popular after it was found helping to treat erectile dysfunction. Now there seems to be a third use for it in the athletic field. Some sports authorities are saying Viagra is becoming quite popular with athletes.

However, there is a divided opinion about Viagra’s influence. Some say it helps athletes and some say there is only a marginal improvement in performance.

Preliminary studies show that Viagra improves cyclist’s performance by up to 40 percent.

Dr. Andrew McCullough, a sex health expert at New York University School of Medicine told MSNBC.com: "If you have more oxygen going to your muscles, that's more energy and that makes you a better athlete…Even if it only gives you a 10 percent increase, in peak athletes, that is enough to win."
McCullough noted that Viagra may not help all athletes. He said it will likely help runners, cyclists or skiers where endurance and speed are the key factors. However, it will not help them physically stronger. S if one tries to use it for other sports like wrestling, Viagra won’t give them an edge.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has not banned Viagra but they are studying more about it and may enforce it in the future if they find Viagra is giving an unfair advantage.

The Viagra drug works by increasing the effects of nitric oxide, which makes blood vessels expand. That should theoretically allow blood cells to travel to the lungs more efficiently and to also receive more oxygen. It may also improve heart function. So athletes are using it to enhance their performance.

Anthony Butch, director of the Olympic Analytical laboratory at the University of California Los Angeles, a WADA-accredited facility, however doesn’t believe this theory that Viagra helps athletes.

He told MSNBC.com:

"Just because you have more nitric oxide doesn't mean that you are going to be a better athlete…If you have all the nitric oxide you need, and if you generate more from Viagra, it's not clear what effect that would have."

Ian McGrath, a professor of physiology at the University of Glasgow said Viagra helps only the people who are in a challenged or diseased state. In normal healthy people, the body’s regulating system will supersede any drugs in the system and will make it useless.

McGrath is worried that in the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, many athletes might use Viagra since they are not in the prohibited list of medicines and may give them unfair advantages over normal athletes.

The athletes are always looking for some edge; the difference between winning and losing is millions of dollars and endorsement money, so athletes resort to quick solutions and don’t consider the long-term side effects. It is going to be a constant challenge between the athletes and the sports agencies.