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In the second episode of The Queen's Gambit, from Wikipedia's summary:

After her overdose, Beth is forbidden to play chess. Time passes and Beth is adopted as a teenager by suburban couple Alma and Allston Wheatley. Allston is emotionally distant and frequently leaves for "business trips"; it soon becomes clear that their marriage is not a happy one. At her new high school, Beth is bullied by the popular girls from the "Apple Pi Club" for her drab clothes. Beth discovers her adoptive mother is taking the same tranquilizer pills that she was given at the orphanage and secretly steals some for herself, allowing her to play mental chess again. She also steals a chess magazine and learns about the upcoming Kentucky State Championship. She writes to Mr. Shaibel, who sends her the money for the entrance fee. As she cruises through her games, she develops a crush on one of her opponents, a young man named Townes. After the second day of the tournament, during which her periods start, Beth comes home to find that Allston has deserted them. Beth fears that she will be sent back to the orphanage, but Alma tells her they will lie so she can stay. During her final game of the tournament against Harry Beltik, the highest-ranked player, Beth becomes flustered and runs to the restroom, where she takes a tranquilizer pill, then wins the game. Upon learning of the prize money on offer in a tournament in Cincinnati, Alma hatches a plan for the two women to support themselves.

(emphasis mine)

This description makes it sound like tranquilizers are a performance-enhancing drug. Does taking tranquilizers count as cheating in chess? I'm aware that there is some kind of anti-doping tests in chess, but I do not know what the tests test for.

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    Of course, the rules have probably changed between the 60s and now.
    – Acccumulation
    Jan 14, 2021 at 0:57
  • she's taking drugs that are not prescribed to her. it's illegal. therefore it's well maybe not necessarily cheating but still breaking the rules?
    – BCLC
    Jan 21, 2021 at 23:29
  • @Acccumulation she's taking drugs that are not prescribed to her. it's illegal. therefore it's well maybe not necessarily cheating but still breaking the rules?
    – BCLC
    Jan 21, 2021 at 23:29

1 Answer 1

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The World Chess Federation (FIDE) uses the list of prohibited substances published by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

I did not see tranquilizers on the list, although I can't say I'm familiar enough with the names of medications to know for sure.

Tranquilizers would seem to be a rather counterproductive way to cheat in most sports, which might explain why they're not on the list.

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    "Tranquilizers would seem to be a rather counterproductive way to cheat in most sports ..." - There might be surprising exceptions though. I'd expect people to say the same of alcohol, but alcohol is actually prohibited in pro archery competitions because of performance enhancing effects. No idea about tranquilizers and chess though.
    – marcelm
    Jan 13, 2021 at 13:45
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    Tranquilizers as in mild sedatives could work to reduce anxiety, which could be a factor in chess. I don't see them mentioned in the WADA list either. But I do see methylphenidate (an ADHD drug) listed as forbidden in all sports, and beta blockers (can lower heart rate and tremors, used for stage fright) forbidden in shooting, archery, billiards and such.
    – ilkkachu
    Jan 13, 2021 at 13:45
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    @Barmar: I rather suspect marijuana is on the list because, several decades ago, the US decided that it was Bad with a capital B, and not for any rational reason.
    – Kevin
    Jan 13, 2021 at 17:20
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    @Kevin Exactly, that's what I mean by "moral reasons".
    – Barmar
    Jan 13, 2021 at 17:26
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    @BCLC Hmm. The FIDE Laws of Chess do state that "The players shall take no action that will bring the game of chess into disrepute." Breaking the law to enhance play, even if the specific drug taken isn't mentioned in the rules, might well be considered an action that would bring the game of chess into disrepute. That clause is one huge grey area.
    – D M
    Jan 22, 2021 at 0:10

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