Read the statements carefully & choose the correct option: Statement: i Taking erythropoietin improves the oxygenation process in the muscles. Statement: ii Human growth hormone is produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries & testes. Statement: iii Athletes use stimulants to stimulate the central nervous system & increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Q: Read the statements carefully & choose the correct option: Statement: i Taking erythropoietin improves the oxygenation process in the muscles. Statement: ii Human growth hormone is produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries & testes. Statement: iii Athletes use stimulants to stimulate the central nervous system & increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Read the statements carefully & choose the correct option: Statement: i Taking erythropoietin improves the oxygenation process in the muscles. Statement: ii Human growth hormone is produced by the adrenal glands, ovaries & testes. Statement: iii Athletes use stimulants to stimulate the central nervous system & increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (2):
The correct option is (2) because it accurately assesses the factual content of the three statements concerning performance-enhancing substances. Statement (i) is correct: Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone that naturally regulates red blood cell production; when misused by athletes, it increases the total number of red blood cells, which directly enhances the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, thus "improving the oxygenation process in the muscles" during intense exercise. Statement (iii) is also correct: Stimulants are a class of drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine, that act upon the central nervous system (CNS), leading to increased alertness, focus, and reduced fatigue, and simultaneously cause sympathetic nervous system effects like increased heart rate and blood pressure. Statement (ii) is definitively incorrect: Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is primarily produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain; the adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes produce various steroid hormones like cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone, but they are not the source of HGH. Therefore, the combination of correct (i and iii) and incorrect (ii) statements makes option (2) the right choice.

The incorrect option is (1):
This option states that all three statements (i, ii, and iii) are correct, which is inaccurate because of the physiological error in Statement (ii). A fundamental knowledge of endocrinology tells us that the pituitary gland is the main producer of HGH, while the listed glands (adrenal, ovaries, and testes) are responsible for secreting sex and stress hormones. By including the false Statement (ii) as correct, this option fails to distinguish between the primary endocrine functions of different glands. Therefore, Option (1) must be rejected.

The incorrect option is (3):
This option erroneously claims that Statement (iii) is incorrect. Stimulants are, by definition, substances used to "stimulate the central nervous system," and their well-known side effects—and their desired performance effect—include the elevation of heart rate and blood pressure. The mechanism is a direct result of their sympathomimetic action, mimicking the body’s 'fight or flight' response. As Statement (i) is correct, the overall conclusion of Option (3) is false because it misinterprets the factual information regarding stimulants.

The incorrect option is (4):
This option is incorrect because it incorrectly identifies Statement (i) as false. Erythropoietin is infamous in sports doping precisely because it enhances aerobic performance by raising the red blood cell count. More red blood cells mean a greater capacity for oxygen transport from the lungs to the working muscles, which fundamentally improves the oxygenation process necessary for endurance. Since Statement (i) is factually correct, the premise of Option (4) that it is incorrect is flawed, leading to the rejection of this option.