Drug/deviance in sport and routes to sporting excellence

• Blood doping= misuse of techniques/substances to incease one's red blood cell count.
• Deviance= unacceptable behaviour within a culture (differs from legal norm).
• Ethics= unfair advantage over competitiors, unjustified if they win.

Blood doping:

• Extracting pints of blood several weeks prior to event.
• Blood is frozen until 1-2 days before event when it is thawed and re-injected back in.
• Side effects; formation of blood clots, kidney damage by allergic reactions, diseases like HIV.

Main performance enhancing drugs:

• Anabolic steroids; enables athletes to train harder/longer, increased strength and aggression.
• Beta blockers; help control the heart rate and calm the athlete (can make HR too slow).
• Stimulants; work as a brain stimulant, increased alertness (e.g. amphetamines).
• Other prohibited substances: narcotic analgesics, anabolic agents, diuretics, peptide hormones, mimetics, analogues, masking agents.

Legal supplements:

• Vitamins/minerals can be bought online or in the pharmacy (in store).
• Dietary supplements are used  to improve health/enhance performance.
• Sports drinks/vitamins can claim to help with building muscle, increasing stamina, weight control or aiding recovery after exercise (can be found in tablet/liquid/powder form).
• Creatine is an ergogenic aid; high-energy compound that helps to store and provide energy, helps you train longer and perform better during high-intensity exercise.
• Energy drinks can help with hydration as they contain electrolytes like sodium, which help stimulate thirst and enhance the body's ability to hold water.
• Have carbohydrates in them too which gives extra energy/protein to help prevent muscle loss.

Disadvantages of taking legal supplements:

• Could contain banned substances/can be contaminated during manafacturing process.
• Long term health effects of creatine- affects digestive system, muscular and CV issues.
• Energy drinks; high in sugar and can contribute to obesity/tooth decay.

Match fixing:

• When a sports event is played to a completely/partly pre-determined result. 
• Against the law; requires contracts to be made between corrupt players, coaches/team officials.

Spot/match fixing:

• When a specific aspect of a sports event is illegally pre-determined.
• E.g. a footballer may be sent off at a certain time in the game/deliberately doesn't score.

Illegal sports betting:

• Gamblers place bets with bookies who receive odds from their managers.
• Placing the bet with an unregistered booker makes it illegal.
• Risky for punters as if they don't receive money (can't report it) or the result may already be known and they've been conned.
• Leads to match fixing/bribery- unfair and damages image of sport.

Causes of violence in players:

• Frustration - at a match official or teammates
• Cheating / Rule Breaking - 'diving' or 'sledging' can lead to a reaction
• Importance of a Result - passion / pressure to win - such as in a Derby Match
• Provocation / Abuse - from opponents and/or crowd
• Lack of Punishment - a bad challenge that isn't punished
• Rivalry - Derby game / loyalty / media hype / racism etc
• Potential 'weapons' - Sticks (e.g. Hockey) or Clubs
• Nature of the Game - Tradition e.g. Ice Hockey or American Football
• Kit or Equipment - de-humanises / protects - such as in American Football (pads)
• Anger - Psychology and Emotions - such as Luis Suarez biting people
• Drugs and Steriods / Drug Cheats.

Possible solutions:

• Change or adapt the rules
• More severe punishment / bans - 10 match ban for Suarez / removal of teams or individuals from leagues or competitions
• Education - Emphasis on fair play and being a Role Model to younger people. Also emphasise the harm that such violence can cause
• Better qualified officials - deal with situations better
• Technology - TMO in Rugby / Video feedback
• Use of Psychology - calming down / anger and stress management techniques.

Causes of violence in spectators:

• Frustration - decisions that go against their team
• Cheating or Rule Breaking - puts their team at an unfair disadvantage
• Importance of result - their team needs to win
• Provocation / Abuse - from opposing fans
• Lack of Punishment - if an opposition player fouls a player on the team the support badly, and it goes unpunished by the official(s)
• Rivalry - Derby games / Loyalty to their team / Media hype surrounding the game
• Alcohol / Drugs - people lose 'inhibitions'
• Overcrowding - poor spectator provision / poor policing and stewarding that means rival fans can get to each other
• Hooligans - looking for a fight / organised violence
• Mass Culture - nature of the event / peer pressure / loss of individual identity / deminished responsibility
• Violence on the Pitch - fuels violence in crowd, towards officials / opposing fans shouting abuse at one another

Possible solutions:

• Stricter Punishments - remove season tickets / bans
• Control or Ban Alcohol use - gate searches / early kick offs
• Improve spectator facilities - all seated stadium / no standing areas (more common in lower leagues)
• Separation of Fans - home and away fans sit in the stands seperately / leave stadium seperately
• Use of CCTV - spot/record incidents that happen in the crowd / record events for potential evidence if needed
• Police / Stewards - Better trained / better relationship with spectators / share information between area police within the country
• Promote as Family Entertainment - family sections in stadiums / provision of entertainment for children - e.g. mascots, summer camps, club 'fundays'
• Responsible Media Coverage - pitch invaders aren't shown on camera / no public attention fo misconduct by fans - 'Stci

• Extensive pathway programmes now in place for athletes (county-regional-international).
• Institutes such as UK Sport who fund NGB's and use income to maximise the performance of UK athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the global events which precede them.
• Institutes provide an environment that maximises potential/supports high performance sport, provide world class support eg coaching/medical/scientific help.
• Institutes provide financial aid/sponsorship to performers.
• Specialist sports colleges such as Hartpury/Wellington have links with local clubs; young athletes can be guided on pathway to excellence.