Viagra and Sports Performance: A Detailed Examination
By Elaine Waller, PharmD / Last Updated:
Reviewed by Eli Coleman, PhD
The role of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) in sports has been a topic of continued study, discussion, and personal accounts. This thorough review explores the scientific findings, specialist viewpoints, real-life instances, and ethical points related to the possible use of Viagra to improve athletic ability.
How It Works and Possible Sports Advantages
Viagra, first created and sold by the large pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. under the name Viagra, is mainly used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Its key component, sildenafil citrate, is part of a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These inhibitors work by stopping the PDE5 enzyme, which breaks down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), a molecule that's important for controlling blood flow. By stopping PDE5, sildenafil raises cGMP levels, causing vasodilation, which is the widening of blood vessels.
This widening effect has sparked interest in whether sildenafil could help athletes perform better, especially in endurance activities and those done at high altitudes. The idea is that better blood flow could bring more oxygen to muscles, possibly reducing tiredness and boosting performance. This is especially important in low-oxygen environments, like high altitudes, where the air has less oxygen, making it harder for the body to get and use oxygen.
Scientific Research and Results
Many studies have looked at how sildenafil affects different parts of athletic performance. A major study by scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 2006, looked at how sildenafil affected cycling in a setting that mimicked high altitude. The study involved 10 trained male cyclists who did time trials in a special chamber that simulated being at 12,710 feet (3,874 meters). The results showed that taking sildenafil led to a 15% overall improvement in time-trial performance. However, the response to sildenafil wasn't the same for everyone, with four cyclists seeing a big improvement of 39% in their times.
On the other hand, a study by scientists at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2006, didn't find any major performance benefits from sildenafil in a group of healthy men and women doing exercise tests at both sea level and a simulated high altitude (12,700 feet). Only one male participant had a noticeable improvement in his time-trial performance after taking sildenafil.
These different findings show that sildenafil's effects on athletic performance are complex and that more research is needed to fully understand its potential benefits and drawbacks.
Expert Views and Opinions
Top specialists in sports medicine and how the body works have different views on using sildenafil in sports. Dr. Anthony Butch, head of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory, a lab approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), agrees that sildenafil might be helpful in certain cases, especially at high altitudes. But he warns that there's not enough proof to say it's widely used to improve performance.
Dr. Andrew McCullough, a well-known expert on sexual health at NYU Langone Health, thinks that even a small improvement in oxygen delivery could be good for top athletes, especially in endurance sports where small gains can make a big difference in competition. He stresses that it's important to consider how each person reacts to sildenafil, as some athletes might see bigger benefits than others.
Professor Ian McGrath, a leading expert on how the body works at the University of Glasgow's Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, explains that sildenafil mainly works by fixing problems in people with heart or blood vessel conditions. He says that for healthy people with normal blood vessel function, sildenafil might not give a big performance boost beyond what the body can already do on its own.
Real-Life Cases and Stories
Some well-known athletes have said they used sildenafil or have been rumored to have used it to try to perform better. Chad Johnson, a former NFL wide receiver known for his outgoing personality and skill on the field, said he took Viagra before every game during his career. He thought the medicine helped his blood flow and stamina, which contributed to his great performance.
Brandon Marshall, another former NFL wide receiver, said in a 2012 interview that some players in the league were using Viagra to improve their performance. He said this was happening because of the strong pressure to do well in a very competitive environment, where athletes are always looking for ways to get ahead, even if it means trying things that might not have strong scientific support.
Rules and Ethical Issues
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the global group that coordinates the fight against doping in sports, has been watching the use of sildenafil by athletes closely. As of 2023, sildenafil is not on WADA's Prohibited List, which lists substances and methods that are banned in competitive sports.
The choice not to ban sildenafil comes from the lack of clear proof that it's widely used to improve performance and the fact that it can be used for legitimate medical reasons in some athletes. Dr. Olivier Rabin, former head of the WADA-approved lab in Montreal, has said that while some athletes might be using sildenafil, it's not seen as a typical doping agent like anabolic steroids or erythropoietin (EPO). Banning it could be hard because it's also used to treat conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a serious lung problem with high blood pressure in the arteries to the lungs, and Raynaud's phenomenon, a circulatory problem that affects blood flow to the hands and feet.
But WADA is still keeping an eye on the scientific research and gathering information on how common and impactful sildenafil use is in sports. The agency might change its mind about sildenafil if future research shows strong evidence that it's widely used to improve performance or if it poses a serious risk to athletes' health and safety.
Possible Benefits Against Ethical Concerns
The use of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) in sports is still a complicated and debated topic. While some studies suggest it might help performance in certain situations, especially at high altitudes or in people with specific medical conditions, the scientific evidence isn't definite. Experts have different opinions, with some wanting more research to fully understand its potential benefits and drawbacks, while others are against its use because there's not enough strong evidence and there could be health risks.
Athletes thinking about using sildenafil to improve performance should carefully consider the possible benefits against the ethical implications and potential health risks. Talking to a qualified doctor or sports medicine specialist is very important to assess individual needs and risks and to make sure that any use of sildenafil follows ethical principles and medical guidelines.
The discussion about using Viagra in sports highlights the ongoing challenge of finding a balance between striving for athletic excellence and the need to keep competition fair and protect athletes' health and well-being. As our scientific understanding of how sildenafil affects athletic performance grows, it's important for athletes, coaches, sports organizations, and governing bodies to have open and informed discussions to make sure that decisions about its use are based on solid scientific evidence, ethical considerations, and a commitment to the integrity of sports.
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About Author
Elaine Waller, PharmD
Dr. Elaine Waller has substantial experience in domestic and international regulatory affairs, and in clinical research. Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance. Prior to joining Sonus Pharmaceuticals in July 2003, she was Chief Operating Officer at Radiant Research, a clinical site management organization. Dr. Waller's previous experience includes senior positions in regulatory affairs and clinical research at Hoechst Marion Roussel and Marion Merrell Dow. She began her career in academia at the University of Texas at Austin where she held teaching positions in both graduate and undergraduate pharmacy education and was Assistant Director of Clinical Research at the Drug Dynamics Institute. Dr. Waller received a B.S. in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and an M.B.A. from Rockhurst University.
