Posts Tagged ‘legal drug’

On China Pollution, Viagra and The Olympics

Viagra is not in the List of Prohibited Substances in the Olympics 2008
It is official. Viagra is not included in the list of prohibited substances in the Olympics this year (2008). One advisor of the committee is Brazilian Eduardo de Rose, who is the president of the medical commission of the Pan-American Sports Organization (PASO). In an interview, he said, “Scientifically, the only proof that Viagra improves sports performance happened at high altitude. That is why it was decided not to include it in the list,” and “You will hardly get to play a football match on Mount Everest,” he graphically concluded. (source)

Most of the sports played in the Olympics may be indoors but a certain number of sports will be held outdoors, pushing athletes right into the arms of the thick Beijing smog. Another article in Bangkokpost.com reports that with the opening of the Olympics just days away, China is coming up with measures to stem the pollution in the city during the games (i.e. temporary suspension of factory operations) to accommodate the athletes and ensure their health. (source)

The reports mentioned above all point to the fact that Viagra could be used (or abused) by some athletes during the Olympic games of 2008, to give them unfair advantage over the others under conditions of extreme pollution. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) has gained its reputation as a sex drug which temporarily alleviates impotence in men with erection problems, but its effect on oxygen delivery to the different organ systems, particularly the lungs, may lead unethical athletes to use it during the games.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter