Cycling, Athletics, Weightlifting……many sports have been tarnished with accusations of drug use amongst their competitors, some more recently than others. But what do these drugs do to the body chemistry? How do they provide the marginal gains that make some sportsmen risk their reputation and their lives?
In the birth-place of the modern Olympics, Dr Simon Cotton, from the University of Birmingham and author of many chemistry books such as ""Every Molecule Tells a Story"" will discuss the molecules at the heart of the drugs in sport tale: their interactions with the body, the functional groups involved, synthetic versus natural steroids, neo-amphetamines (as found recently in samples from Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell) amongst other things. The talk will be followed by a question opportunity and open floor discussion and is suitable for anyone with an interest in chemistry but with reference to the A-Level syllabi.
In the birth-place of the modern Olympics, Dr Simon Cotton, from the University of Birmingham and author of many chemistry books such as ""Every Molecule Tells a Story"" will discuss the molecules at the heart of the drugs in sport tale: their interactions with the body, the functional groups involved, synthetic versus natural steroids, neo-amphetamines (as found recently in samples from Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell) amongst other things. The talk will be followed by a question opportunity and open floor discussion and is suitable for anyone with an interest in chemistry but with reference to the A-Level syllabi.
