WBC Clean Boxing Program: diuretics-a dangerous masking agent!
How many times have we heard about the use of diuretics in sports?
Unfortunately, this practice is more common than we imagine. However, the use of this type of drugs is not harmless. On the contrary it’s use can seriously endanger health and even have fatal consequences.
Diuretics are drugs whose effect on the body increase the excretion of urine. This is done by increasing the renal elimination of sodium chloride.
The objective is to increase the renal loss of salt and water, producing an increase in the volume of urine, with the consequent loss of weight. Weight reduction occurs with the intake of diuretics and is proportional and dependent on the depletion of sodium chloride induced by them.
Diuretics are also known as “masking agents” because they are meant to hide the presence of specific illegal drugs during doping tests via urine.
Concerning boxing, diuretics are used to bring about an artificial reduction of weight and thus achieve fighting in lower divisions and also preventing the detection of other prohibited substances.
Diuretics are fifth placed in the frequency of the most used drug class with a 6.7% of usage on all the adverse analytical results worldwide.
There are several types of diuretics, grouped in the following families: Potent diuretics (Furosemide type), thiazides (Hydrochlorothiazide type), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (Acetazolamide type), mercurials (Mersalil type) and Aldosterone inhibitors (Spironolactone type).
It is necessary to understand that the improper use of this type of drugs not only dehydrates the body, but also causes a variety of side effects that put the lives of those who consume them at real risk.
The risks include:
Arterial hypertension
Congestive heart failure
Dehydration
Ascites of liver cirrhosis
Alteration of blood cells, with decrease in white blood cells and platelets
Gastrointestinal disorders, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Increase in uric acid, which can cause acute gout
Increase in blood lipoproteins, with an incidence in arteriosclerosis risk
Allergic reactions
Decreased hearing
Renal alterations
Muscle weakness and cramps
Heart rhythm disorders
Some diuretics make the skin more sensitive to the sun, which may generate burns, irritations (a recent study by the Danish Cancer Society states that some of these drugs may increase the risk of skin cancer).
From certain limits of loss of water, physical performance diminishes in any person: a loss of 3 to 4% of the weight of a subject, caused by loss of water and salts, causes a decrease in physical performance of 10 to 15%.
In cases of large losses of water and salt, a picture of extracellular dehydration can occur, characterized by hypotension, tachycardia, poor peripheral blood flow and decreased renal function, which in advanced stages can lead to a coma and death.
In the WBC we know that it is imperative to alert all boxers of the grave risks involved in the use of banned substances. Since unfortunately, many of them are unaware of the terrible danger they run due to the lack of information. This leads them to trust unscrupulous people who exhort them, while urging them to consume.
The Clean Boxing Program is a priority for the World Boxing Council, the WBC’s number one priority is to ensure the safety of our boxers, through guidance and information. Knowledge is power.
Sources:
https://www.sabervivirtv.com/medicina-general/como-actuan-diureticos-efectos-secundarios_1156
RQ BOXING INSTITUTE / Roberto Quesada / http://entrenamientoenelboxeo.blogspot.com/2011/03/doping-en-el-boxeo.html
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