With the 2008 Olympics in Beijing drawing ever closer, there is an increased interest in the media and the public in the sporting world. It is almost inevitable that where Olympics is mentioned so too is the issue of ‘doping’.

This issue took an interesting twist recently with the news that The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has confirmed it is considering whether to include Viagra in its list of banned substances in international sports. Reports have emerged that athletes looking for a performance boost are increasingly turning to the little blue pill made famous for its off-the-field benefits.

Viagra (sildenafil), manufactured by Pfizer Inc, was launched in 1998 as the first oral treatment for erectile dysfunction . The drug works by increasing the effects of nitric oxide, which makes blood vessels expand. It was originally developed as a heart drug; and in fact, it has since been approved to treat a range of disorders including pulmonary hypertension, a condition where the lungs' blood vessels tighten. Doctors have also used the drug experimentally to treat pregnant women with high blood pressure and to ward off jet lag.

Wada is now conducting research into the drug to discover if it also enhances athletic performance with the results expected next year. Initial reports indicate that the drug may enhance endurance, especially when competitors are breathing in polluted conditions or at high altitudes. So even though it is not yet illegal, taking Viagra theoretically could help the delivery of oxygen to muscles - which could help athletes perform in polluted environments like Beijing.

Other experts report that it is unlikely that Viagra would give athletes an edge over their competitors. Viagra cannot fix what isn’t broken. It corrects problems so if the person taking it healthy, then it is unlikely to have any effect.

Either way, given the nature of what it is generally used for, it may be unrealistic to try to enforce a ban on Viagra. Some of the athletes who are testing positive for Viagra might be using it for their sexual performance, because they are lacking in that area due to other doping agents that they are taking.

Other doctors suggest that Viagra's more well-known effects on men's sex lives might be the ultimate explanation for any improved performance in the sporting arena. "If athletes are euphoric after sex after taking Viagra, they may be euphoric about their athletic endeavors," said Dr. Gerard Varlotta, director of sports rehabilitation at New York University's Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. "That may make them a better athlete", he added.

No action can currently be taken on athletes who have Viagra in their system because it is not illegal.