Experience shows that, due to their age, spare time, disposable income, etc., athletes are at risk of being exposed to Recreational Drugs while Out of Competition, with the following potential consequences:
Damage to the physical and /or mental health, welfare and general well-being of an athlete using Recreational Drugs, both in the short- term and because of the addictive effects of Recreational Drugs, in the long-term.
Athletes under the influence of Recreational Drugs risk injuring themselves or others during training, due to the negative effect that Recreational Drugs can have on both mental and physical functioning such as motor skills, reaction time, altered perception, concentration, judgment, and decision-making.
Athletes testing positive immediately after a competition or training session for a Recreational Drug taken Out of Competition (because metabolites of the drug remain in the system for several days or even weeks), and consequently being banned from the sport for a lengthy period under the BJJAGB Anti-Doping Policy.
Harm to public health where Athletes use of Recreational Drugs is replicated by younger athletes and followers who see them as role models.
Damage to the image and reputation of the sport, with parents potentially being deterred from permitting their children to participate in the sport and /or potential commercial partners being deterred from associating their brands with the sport.
Ju-Jitsu makes physical and mental demands on the body. Recreational drugs are also demanding on you – whether you want them to or not they affect the mind and body.
When you are very active – during Ju-Jitsu for example, the body adapts to provide you with the support you need, such as increasing the rate your heart pumps blood and supplies oxygen to your muscles. Your brain works to maintain body temperature, coordinate your movement, and make sure you are alert.
Your body is designed to coordinate itself to allow you to perform at your best.
Mixing drugs and sport can disrupt your game in many ways.
Depressant drugs such as cannabis, alcohol and opiates, slow down breathing. Cannabis reduces your lung capacity, so it’s harder to get the oxygen your muscles need during sport. Opiates, such as heroin and codeine, slow down breathing and narrow your airways. This makes it harder to breathe and reduces breathing at a time when your body needs extra oxygen.
Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy and speed, increase heart rate and put undue stress on your heart. Cocaine can cause heart attack and abnormal heart rhythm. When you use speed, the lack of blood to the heart can cause angina (severe chest pain). Depressants such as alcohol slow down your heart rate, meaning less oxygen-rich blood reaches the muscles.
The last thing you want during sport is to disrupt your coordination and relax your muscles. Depressants such as cannabis reduce motor activity so it’s hard to coordinate your movements during sport. Alcohol is high in calories so you may start piling on the weight. Stimulants increase movement so you are more likely to injure yourself during sport. Cocaine at higher doses can act as an anaesthetic so you can’t feel pain and may play on after an injury, causing even more damage.
Depressants like cannabis, alcohol and opiates affect alertness and concentration, so you are slower to react. Stimulants, such as cocaine, speed and ecstasy can make you irritable and restless – making you less focused on the game.
Hallucinogens like cannabis and magic mushrooms can play havoc with the senses. They affect your sights and sounds, which could disrupt your performance.
Some depressants, such as alcohol, cause mild anaesthesia or loss of feeling, so you may not notice when you’re injured. This can lead to delays in getting rapid treatment and in recovery.
Stimulants, such as cocaine and speed, can keep you awake so you don’t get the rest you need and this can affect your performance. They also decrease appetite when you should be replacing calories after using so much energy. Side effects also include confusion, delirium and paranoia. At higher doses stimulants can cause you to become irritable and aggressive, they can also cause blood vessels in the brain to rupture leading to convulsions.
The BJJAGB Recreational Drugs Policy can be found by clicking the link below:
BJJAGB Clean Sport Team
Accrington
Lancashire
BB5 6PN
Telephone: 07816922307
