<P> Performance - enhancing substances, also known as performance - enhancing drugs (PED), are substances that are used to improve any form of activity performance in humans . A well - known example involves doping in sport, where banned physical performance--enhancing drugs are used by athletes and bodybuilders . Athletic performance - enhancing substances are sometimes referred to as ergogenic aids . Cognitive performance - enhancing drugs, commonly called nootropics, are sometimes used by students to improve academic performance . Performance - enhancing substances are also used by military personnel to enhance combat performance . </P> <P> The use of performance - enhancing drugs spans the categories of legitimate use and substance abuse . </P>

What is the definition of performance enhancing drugs