Ten of the most incredible doping

This - 10 unusual substances that our ancestors, and in some cases, contemporary and used as doping agents. You may be surprised, but there also includes soda and arsenic, and the sperm of guinea pigs, and much more ...

Letters +10 photos via news.nur.kz

1. Strychnine

Better known as a deadly poison, strychnine, was considered the ticket to success for an American runner Thomas Hicks, who participated in the Olympic marathon in 1904. Thomas mixed this stuff with brandy and egg white. At the finish he needed an ambulance, and he nearly died, but the gold medal yet won.





2. Donkey hoof

Ancient Egyptian athletes took the hooves of Abyssinian asses in powder form; they cooked in butter and seasoned with wild rose, to hide the distinctive odor.



3. Sweet ether

Cubes of sugar on the air helped cyclist to overcome the 144-hour race in the 1870s. When that was not enough, the coaches have added nitroglycerin cocaine with a pinch of mint for flavor.



4. Baking soda

Some modern swimmers true "soda-doping", which helps them save precious seconds during the competition. By increasing the level of pH, bicarbonate of soda can reduce the level of acid produced by the muscles of athletes, allowing them to stay in shape. Although soda-doping also causes diarrhea.



5. Ultraviolet light

In the 1930s, Soviet scientists found that when subjected to ultraviolet light runners, it will increase their speed in the 100-meter race. In the 1940s, German researchers also found similar improvements in cycling.



6. Sperm guinea pig

In the late 1800s physiologist Charles Brown-Sekard injected himself serum from a mixture of semen dog and guinea pig, saying that it makes him stronger and even "extend the arc of his urine," and although he certainly exaggerated the benefit of their own discoveries, it definitely became the forerunner of doping substances, based on hormones.



7. Tinctures for pigeons

Pigeon race was marred by doping scandals: While some owners prefer pigeons anabolic steroids and other drugs used against molting. Birds also given a laxative, so they emptied prior to the competition and thus lost weight.



8. Hallucinogenic mushrooms

Hallucinogenic mushrooms used not only berserkers: Olympians in the third century and relied on them to quickly get to the finish line faster.



9. Arsenic

In the provinces of Styria and Tyrol Austrian loggers waving axes under the action of megadoses of arsenic, which is also taken to improve digestion.



10. The human heart

The ancient Aztecs believed that eating human hearts helps both in war and in sport.



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