Q.The performance enhancement drug generally used by boxers and judo players to reduce their weight is

Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, help the body get rid of excess salt (sodium) and water by inhibiting water re-absorption in the kidney, which also lowers blood pressure. In a sporting context, diuretics are misused in two distinct ways: first, as a masking agent to dilute urine and help hide the presence of another banned substance during testing, and second, to shed water weight quickly in order to qualify for a lower weight category — a particular temptation in combat and weight-class sports.

The textbook lists six side effects: headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, high blood sugar levels, abnormal heart rhythm, and fatigue — several of which (cramps, abnormal heart rhythm) are a direct consequence of the same fluid/electrolyte disturbance that makes diuretics effective at losing weight in the first place. …