Coffee Nomad

I didn’t realize taking caffeine pills before a tennis match could be counted as illegal drug use… but apparently it can be (especially when mixed with amphetamines such as Meth and Speed).  Agassi disclosed his ritual of taking “a little white pill” before his match to increase his alertness in his recent autobiography Open.  According to different reports, he had a feeling that he shouldn’t be taking these little pills, which is why he lied under oath about it.

Caffeine is condoned by most Americans as an acceptable performance enhancer since most of us consume it in some form or another every day.  It can be found in mainstream beverages such as coffee and soda.

Caffeine not only boosts mental alertness, it also amps up the body’s central nerve system, metabolism and the respiratory system.  As a long distance runner, I found that it also helped to expand my airways, making it easier to breathe.  As a high school student especially, it would not have been possible to study and participate in all of my energy-consuming extra-curricular activities without caffeine.

One noteworthy ruling regarding caffeine in sports occurred around the time of the 2000 Olympics, when caffeine was officially banned.  Olympic officials use urine tests to determine whether or not an athlete has an excessive level of caffeine in their system.

Reference: The Associated Press.