by James
4. June 2010 08:16
The worlds of drugs and sports quite often mix, as every once in a while we hear stories of professional players being caught using drugs to enhance their performance and land up getting caught. But poker players? Really?
In a recent study by the Nova South-eastern University in Florida, results shows that some players admitted to using drugs such as cocaine marijuana, amphetamines, Valium and numerous other prescription drugs to enhance their performance. Numerous other players also admitted to relying on caffeine, energy drinks, and over the counter energy supplying tablets in an effort to maintain an upper hand against their competitors.
The university found these results after interviewing 198 professional, semi pro, amateur and novice poker players from around the world, about their use of performance enhancing drugs. As well as dietary supplements and other numerous other substances to improve their poker performance. Most players who took their drugs, around 73%, claimed in was to help them focus or concentrate.
“The use of these substances could allow poker players to stay awake longer, as well as focus and concentrate better, which would be a competitive advantage” study author Kevin Clauson said in a university press release this week.
A few comments found on different site around the net:
“I use to play poker online while smoking & I would play better. For some reason it made it easier for me to tell if someone was bluffing.”
“I used to order a cup of 2% milk at the casino tables. Threw many of the seasoned players off. Also, milk has a calming effect” – Though I’m sure this does not count.
“How can we stand idly by while poker players poison our kids? It's time to ban poker.”
“Maybe some of these drugs enable you not to blink and bluff better.”