Week 1 - Theoretical

Introducing ergogenic substances and methods, usage objectives, classified as prohibited (doping) or the use of free (ergogenic) substances and methods, general properties of these and legal status of their usages. Classification of ergogenic aids according their properties as: 1- Nutritional, 2- Physiological, 3- Pharmacological, 4- Mechanical and biomechanical and 5-Psychological aids, and relations with exercise performance in the general sense

Week 2 - Theoretical

Biomolecules, located on the structure of organisms: General structure and function of protein, carbohydrates, fats and nucleic acids, basic structure and functions of enzymes and hormones and their relations with exercise performance

Week 3 - Theoretical

General aspects of the nutrient elements such as carbohydrates, lipids, protein, vitamin and mineral: digestion, metabolism and relations with exercise performance

Week 4 - Theoretical

Energy metabolism and energy pathways, bioenergetics; structure, resources, functions in energy metabolism, metabolism and regulations of high-energy compounds like ATP and CP. TCA cycle, electron carriers, oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthesis, relations with exercise performance

Week 5 - Theoretical

General and sport-specific basics of nutrition principles, the roles and basic mechanisms of generally classified ergogenic aids in the energy metabolism, relations with exercise performance

Week 6 - Theoretical

Classification of nutritional aids: carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, lipids and their derivatives, vitamins, minerals, and sports drinks. General relations of these substances with functions and performance. Carbohydrates (CHO) and their derivates: classification, storage, metabolism of CH, glycogenolysis, hypoglycemia, metabolic and hormonal regulation of glycolysis and relations with exercise performance. Ergogenic substances related to the metabolism of CHO: special dietary, glycemic index, glucose loading, ergogenic effects of sports drinks and other sugars

Week 7 - Theoretical

Structure and functions of proteins, amino acids and their derivates; General structure and functions, classificationand metabolism of amino acids, their relationship with essential and non-essential amino acids and performance, ergogenics in the form of amino acids and its derivatives: structure and functions, metabolism, doses of usage of substances such as creatine, glutamine, hydroxymethyl butyrate (HMB), lysine, arginine, and its relation with nitric oxide, tyrosine, histidine, ornithine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, taurine, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and their effects on performance

Week 8 - Theoretical

Mechanical and biomechanical aids: The importance and biochemical mechanism of factors such as shoes, clothes, equipment, materials, environment, ground structure; regulation of body composition and the roles on exercise performance and midterm evaluation

Week 9 - Theoretical

Protein and its derivates: The effects of proteins to osmotic pressure, structure and function of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Effects of anemia and related hormones, vitamins, minerals; the benefits and harms of protein powders and their relationships to performance

Week 10 - Theoretical

The structure, classification, storage, metabolism and regulation of lipids, and their relationships to exercise performance. Ergogenic substances related with lipid metabolism: the structure and functions, doses of usage, metabolism of substances such as carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid, medium chain triglycerides, glycerol, wheat germ oil octacosanol and their effects on the health and performance.

Week 11 - Theoretical

The relation of liquid-electrolyte balance and acid-base balance with exercise performance.Physiological aids: the basic structure, functions and metabolism, usage doses, harmful effects of creatine, carnitine, oxygen carriers, blood doping, erythropoietin, aspartic acid salts, citrate, bicarbonate, bicarbonate loading, phosphate loading, heating and temperature variations and their relationships to exercise performance

Week 12 - Theoretical

Pharmacological aids: The structure, function, metabolism, doses of usage of alcohol, caffeine, beta blockers, nicotine, etc.. and their effect on the performance

Week 13 - Theoretical

Pharmacological aids: substances and methods which are free to use or prohibited: meaning of the word doping, classification of doping substances, commonly used doping substances. The structure, function, metabolism, doses of usage, harmful effects, legal status of hormones, anabolic steroids, HGH, oral contraceptives, amphetamines, diuretics, cocaine and marijuana and their effect on the health and performance.

Week 14 - Theoretical

Review and evaluation of previous weeks