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ABSTRACT
Athletes who use caffeine before exercising or competition may be upgrading themselves more than they realize. Caffeine is classified as a stimulant and is the most commonly used drug in the world. Caffeine has the same affects that amphetamines and cocaine have, just to a lesser degree. Caffeine crosses the membranes of all the body's tissues. It can exert effects on the central nervous system and the peripheral tissues that result in physiological effects. Studies have shown that caffeine improves performance in a variety of different activities. This stimulant has been shown to be a powerful ergogenic aid that is beneficial in athletic training and performance. Caffeine has been found to increase speed and power, improve the length of training, and assist the athlete in resisting fatigue. Caffeine has been found to stimulate the brain, which contributes to clearer thinking and ability to concentrate more intensely on the task at hand. Studies have shown that up to 25% of athlete's ages 11-18 years old have used caffeine in an effort to increase their athletic performances. Because of caffeine's effect on the body and its ability to increase an athlete's performance, Olympic Committees have debated on whether caffeine should be tested before the Olympic Games.
Keywords: Caffeine; Caffeinated Drinks; Muscle Glycogen; Exercise; Performance Enhancing Drugs
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is to explore caffeine's affect on athletic performance. An additional focus will be to search for information related to the benefits of caffeine that may improve athletic performance.
THE BROAD USE OF CAFFEINE
"Caffeine is classified as a stimulant and is performance enhancing" (Jenkinson & Harbert, 2008, pg. 3). Caffeine is the most commonly used drug. In general, society would not approve of an athlete using a steroid drug or a stimulant, but no one reacts negatively to athletes drinking coffee, tea, energy drinks, or soft drinks. Caffeine is appearing in a number of other products, including energy drinks, bars, sports gel, alcoholic beverages, and diet aids. Figure 1 shows a comparison of caffeinated drinks, many of which are used by athletes before a competition.
The American Alliance for Health stated that there are three ways that caffeine may provide ergogenic effects. "First, the metabolic theory suggests that caffeine provides improved endurance...