Q.Why cannabinoids are banned in sports and games?

Cannabinoids, derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, interact with specific receptors primarily in the brain and also affect the cardiovascular system, leading to psychoactive effects. They are banned in sports and games because their use can significantly impair an athlete's judgment, coordination, and reaction time, thereby increasing the risk of injury during competition. Furthermore, the use of such substances goes against the fundamental principles of fair play and the integrity of sport, as it introduces an artificial influence on an athlete's natural capabi …

Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds that interact with specific receptors in the body, primarily in the brain and nervous system. They are naturally found in the cannabis plant, from which substances like marijuana and hashish are derived. While their effects can vary, they are known to influence mood, perception, pain sensation, and cognitive functions. Given these effects, their use in competitive sports raises serious concerns regarding fairness, athlete health, and the integrity of competition, leading to their prohibition by anti-doping authorities worldwide.

The reasons for banning cannabinoids in sports are comprehensive and address several critical aspects of athletic competition:

• Potential for Performance Enhancement:

  Cannabinoids can indirectly enhance performance in several ways, giving an unfair advantage to athletes who use them.

  • Pain Management: One of the most recognized effects of cannabinoids is their ability to reduce the perception of pain. For an athlete, this could mean being able to train harder, push through injuries, or compete despite discomfort that would naturally limit performance. This masks the body's warning signals, which are crucial for preventing further injury.
  • Anxiety Reduction: In high-pressure competitive environments, cannabinoids might help reduce pre-competition anxiety and nervousness. While this might seem beneficial, it can provide an artificial sense of calm or focus, potentially improving performance beyond an athlete's natural psychological resilience.
  • Improved Recovery (Perceived): Although not scientifically proven as a direct physiological recovery aid, the subjective feeling of relaxation and pain relief after intense exertion might lead athletes to believe they are recovering faster. This could encourage them to resume training or competition prematurely, risking overtraining or injury.

• Significant Health Risks:

  The use of cannabinoids poses several health risks that are particularly dangerous for athletes, whose bodies are already under immense physical stress.

  • Cardiovascular Effects: As highlighted in the NCERT textbook, cannabinoids can affect the cardiovascular system. They can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which can be extremely hazardous for athletes engaged in strenuous physical activity, potentially leading to cardiac events or exacerbating existing heart conditions.
  • Respiratory Issues: When consumed by smoking, cannabis can lead to respiratory problems such as chronic bronchitis, lung irritation, and reduced lung capacity. These conditions directly impair an athlete's endurance and overall respiratory efficiency, which are vital for most sports.
  • Impaired Cognitive Function: Cannabinoids are known to impair judgment, coordination, reaction time, and concentration. These are fundamental cognitive and motor skills required in almost every sport. Impairment in these areas not only diminishes performance but also significantly increases the risk of accidents and injuries, both to the user and to other competitors.
  • Psychological Effects: Long-term or heavy use can lead to psychological dependence, anxiety, paranoia, and can even trigger or worsen underlying mental health conditions. Such issues severely impact an athlete's mental well-being, consistency in training, and ability to compete effectively. …

Method: Test Against the Three WADA Anti-Doping Criteria

The World Anti-Doping Agency bans a substance if it meets at least two of three defined criteria — testing cannabinoids against each makes the reasoning explicit rather than a general list of harms.

Step 1: Criterion — potential to enhance performance

Cannabinoids reduce pain perception and pre-competition anxiety, letting an athlete push past a natural pain/fear limit that would otherwise protect against injury. Criterion met.

Step 2: Criterion — actual or potential health risk to the athlete

Documented cardiovascular effects (raised heart rate/blood pressure) and respiratory effects (when smoked) are hazardous specifically for athletes already placing the cardiovascular system under extreme exertion. Criterion met.

Step 3: Criterion — violation of the spirit of sport …