A historical glance to the doping phenomenon

Abstract

From the humanity's beginnings, the rivalry has made that in any sport competition all the possible means are used (licit and illicit) to obtain an advantage and this way, to get the status or money associated to the victory, appea ling in many cases to the doping; where doctors, trainers and pharmacologists have worked in non ethic way to increase the sportsmen performance. The Anglo - Saxon term “doping” is derived from the word “ dop" of kaffir origin, south African tribe , adapted later to the Boer and, fi n ally to English. Firstly it made mention to a strong liquor used by the tribes in the cult ceremonies to the gods. Some of the first s ubstances used with this end are ”hydromel", as stimulating and wine due to its inhibitors and relaxants effects , the win e was used a lot in the first Olympic Games. I n the III century B.C. a preparation with grasses and other substances was used to improve the sportsmen performance . We can say therefore that the doping history goes back to the Olympic Games of the Classic G reece, although, it is not until the second half of the XIX century, when its commercial peak begins and it its consumption incredibly increased. At the moment the term “doping” is used in the spor t environment and it refers to the use of forbidden substa nces (or the presence of markers of this substances in the athlete's body) or methods that can improve the physical or mental condition of a spo rtsman artificially, and with it, the performance in the sport practice, according to the International Olympic Committee. The present research seeks to carry out a coursebook o n the historical aspects of the doping development from its beginnings until the present time due to the relevance this marked phenomenon has gotten in the contemporary sport and its univers al repercussion.