31162 - Pharmacology in Sport

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows the mechanism of action, the pharmacokinetics and the risk-benefit profile of drugs used in sports. Moreover, he/she knows the list of drugs and substances currently banned in sport, the toxic effects and the health risk of various drugs used as doping, and the World Anti-Doping Code.

Course contents

Drug abuse and doping: general aspects and epidemiology.

International regulatory aspects for doping : World Anti-Doping Code; Medicinal products subject to restrictions and their prescription in case of therapeutic use; request for exemption for therapeutic purposes; declaration of therapeutic use. The doping controls.

List of substances and medical practices considered doping.

Pharmaco-toxicological aspects of different classes of prohibited drugs:

Anabolic agents: anabolic androgenic steroids

Peptide hormones: erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, growth hormone

Hormonal and metabolic modulators: aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor modulators, agents that modify the function of myostatin, insulins

Diuretics and masking agents

Stimulants: amphetamines, cocaine, ephedrine. Substances included in the monitoring program

Narcotics: morphine, heroin, methadone

Doping and addiction

Doping and sudden/unexpected death syndrome

Readings/Bibliography

Doping in Sport. Editors: Thieme, Detlef, Hemmersbach, Peter (Eds.). Springer, 2010.

Teaching methods

Lectures with multimedia support. The teaching material presented during the lectures is available on the "Insegnamenti On Line" plarform of the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist in a written test aimed at assessing the student's understanding and knowledge of the topics set out during the course.

The written test consists of:

-25 multiple choice questions. Each right answer will be awarded with 1 point, while wrong answers will be given -0,5 points.

-5 open-ended questions. Up to 1 point is assigned for each correct answer.

Students have up to 60 minutes to complete the written test.

Examples and details will be shown during the lessons.

The student will get a mark for each course unit (Biochemistry of Exercise and Sport 3 CFU - Pharmacology in Sport 3 CFU). The marks obtained for each exam, in proportion to the number of credits, contribute to the final grade of thirty.

To check exam dates, students can access AlmaEsami.

Teaching tools

Slides are usually used to enhance clarity during courses. The materials used will be uploaded to to the website https://virtuale.unibo.it

Username and password are reserved for students enrolled at the University of Bologna.

Office hours

See the website of Carmela Fimognari