Many people believe that anabolic steroids are used by all athletes and even crossfitters. Find out how true this statement is. Today, more and more often it is mono to hear the opinion that steroids in CrossFit are used more and more actively. Of course, these statements cannot be confirmed or refuted with complete certainty. However, a situation has long been brewing when this issue should be dealt with in detail. Perhaps there are crossfitters who use anabolic steroids, but these are isolated cases. This article aims to explain the fact that steroids are not advisable in CrossFit.
What is CrossFit doping?
To begin with, all doping drugs can be divided into two categories: hormonal and dietary supplements. We will consider hormonal drugs, since most people under the term "doping" primarily mean steroids.
Steroids are drugs based on synthetically created derivatives of the male hormone - testosterone. It is testosterone that is responsible for muscle growth, an increase in the physical parameters of athletes. Of course, all this can only be achieved with a high concentration of testosterone. Today it is steroids that continue to be the most effective means for enhancing athletic performance. At the same time, other drugs are more and more actively used, but about them a little lower.
Testosterone in its usual form is not suitable for use for the purpose of gaining mass or increasing strength. This is due to its short half-life. In order for testosterone to work for a certain length of time, sufficient to create a powerful anabolic background, it is necessary to modify its molecule.
One of the easiest ways is to esterify the hormone. Simply put, an ester chain is added to the testosterone molecule. After administration, the ether is gradually separated from the hormone and testosterone molecules enter the bloodstream. Note that ethers have different half-lives ranging from a couple of days to several weeks.
Also, the testosterone molecule can be modified in other ways, which made it possible to learn a lesson about various anabolic drugs, for example, Nandrolone. In addition to steroids, athletes also use insulin, growth hormone, peptides, erythropoietin, drugs of the classes of beta-blockers and beta-adrenergic agonists, etc. Of course, there is a possibility that the athlete may use any of the doping agents.
Effects of steroids on crossfit strength training
Under the influence of prolonged physical exertion, the body adapts, which leads to muscle growth. Note that the mechanism of muscle growth is quite complex and even scientists have not yet revealed all its secrets. However, we can say for sure that anabolic hormones play an important role in this process, to which testosterone belongs. With a high content of these substances in the blood, special processes are activated in the tissue cells, in particular, the synthesis of contractile protein compounds.
Hormones are actively produced by the body during the training itself and after its completion. It is with their help that the strength and type of stress received by the body during training is determined. In addition, the muscle tissue receives microdamages, which are then eliminated due to the high anabolic background caused by an increase in the concentration of the corresponding hormones.
However, resistance training can lead to a significant increase in the catabolic background, which exceeds the anabolic one. In this case, the muscle tissue will begin to break down. This fact is the main reason for the importance of the hormonal response of the body, not only during the lesson itself, but also after its completion. Moreover, muscle growth only occurs during rest.
Muscle tissue is composed of two types of fibers. There are special methods of training them. Some fibers are designed to do short-term powerful work, while others are hardy and last a long time, but generate less force.
CrossFit differs from other strength sports disciplines in a great variety. Crossfitters are forced to use a lot of muscles during the performance. Surely you have a question - what does the mechanism of muscle growth described above have to do with steroids? The most direct. The anabolic background can be raised only through the secretion of its own anabolic hormones, which is achieved through certain training schemes.
Most of the accusations against CrossFitters come from people who can't believe that someone else is capable of looking different from them. But this is not a reason to make such statements. And I would like to say to all representatives of this wonderful sport that you should not be offended by such statements, but continue to train and perform.
Honestly and interestingly about the use of steroids in CrossFit in this video:
