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A look at the main categories of drugs banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Stimulants - Substances which act on the brain stimulating the body both mentally and physically. They increase alertness, competitiveness and aggression and help to combat fatigue, making athletes feel stronger, more energetic and decisive.

Misuse of stimulants can increase blood pressure and body temperature and create an irregular heart beat. Consequences include cardiac arrest and strokes.

Stimulants can be contained in prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as in herbal and nutritional supplements.

Examples of prohibited stimulants: amineptine, amiphenazole, amphetamines, bromantan, carphedon, cocaine, ephedrines, fencamfamine, mesocarb, pentylentetrazol, pipradol, phenylpropanolamine, phentermine, salbutamol, salmenterol, strychnine, terbutaline.

Steroids - Anabolic (body-building) steroids mimic the effects of the male sex hormone testosterone by stimulating the muscle and bone cells to make new protein. Athletes are able to train harder, longer and more frequently.

Steroids are used by doctors to promote recovery after major surgery and serious illness.

Because steroids duplicate the effects of a natural hormone they can lead to side-effects such as the development of male features in women, loss of fertility, impotence, acne and kidney damage. They increase blood pressure, harden arteries and increase the risk of heart disease, liver disease and certain forms of cancer.

Examples of anabolic steroids: androstenedione, nandrolone, stanozolol.

Diuretics - Diuretics help to eliminate fluid from the body and are used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney and liver diseases. They increase the production of urine and reduce tissue swelling caused by fluid retention.

Diuretics are misused by athletes to reduce weight and as a masking agent by diluting urine and making it more difficult to detect other banned drugs.

They have several adverse side-effects, including severe dehydration which can cause the kidneys and heart to stop working.

Examples of diuretics: acetazolamide, bumetanide, chlorthalidone, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, mannitol, hydrochlorothiazide, mersalyl, spironalactone, triamterene.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) - A naturally occurring hormone which stimulates growth and promotes protein synthesis.

Artificially administered HGH stimulates muscle and tissue growth. Adverse effects in adults include body disfigurement with unnaturally large feet, hands and jaws.

Erythropoietin (EPO) - A hormone produced by the kidneys to regulate the production of red blood cells. Synthetic EPO boosts the number of cells, which in turn enhances the body's capacity to use oxygen.

EPO has been used mainly by endurance athletes such as distance runners and cross-country skiers but competitors in explosive events such as sprinting have also tested positive.

Adverse effects include high blood pressure, clogged arteries and veins, swelling of the brain and seizures.

Beta-blockers - Block the transmission of stimuli through the beta receptors located in the heart, lung and blood vessels.

Beta-blockers are used medically to treat angina, high blood pressure and heart disease.

They are misused to decrease the heart rate and stop possible trembling in sports such as shooting and archery.

Adverse effects include fatigue, depression and heart failure.

Blood doping - Administering red blood cells or related products to artificially increase the number of red blood cells already in the body.

Blood is taken from a competitor, stored, and then reinjected about a month before competition.

Dangers and complications range from fever and chills, to serious infections (including AIDS), kidney and liver failure, and brain damage.

Reuters