Athletes use Viagra for a competitive edge

Athletes looking for a performance boost are increasingly turning to a little blue pill more usually taken for its off-the-field benefits.

Some sports authorities say Viagra is now finding a following among athletes. It isn't clear how many might be taking it in hopes of improving athletic performance, but stashes of Viagra have reportedly been found among some professional athletes. The World Anti-Doping Agency is currently studying Viagra's effects on athletes, but hasn't yet banned it. Experts are divided over whether it actually offers athletes an edge.

"It's possible," said Anthony Butch, director of the Olympic Analytical Laboratory at the University of California Los Angeles, a WADA-accredited facility.

But whether Viagra makes athletes faster, higher or stronger is uncertain.

Some preliminary studies have shown that cyclists taking Viagra improved their performances by up to 40 per cent. "If you have more oxygen going to your muscles, that's more energy and that makes you a better athlete," said Dr. Andrew McCullough, a sexual health expert at New York University School of Medicine. "Even if it only gives you a 10 per cent increase, in peak athletes, that is enough to win," he said.

McCullough said Viagra is only likely to help athletes like runners, cyclists or skiers - sports where endurance and speed are key. Viagra does not work directly on muscles, so will not make athletes physically stronger.