Drugs in sport

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INTRODUCTION The use of Performance enhancing substances is recognized as a serious problem across numerous sports, an issue which resulted in the foundation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in November 1999. Since the foundation of WADA, the anti-doping effort within professional sport has been significantly intensified and the resources invested are increasing rapidly. However, despite measures to deter and detect doping, athletes continue to use illicit substances. In fact, copious surveys suggest that the usage of performance enhancing substances has increased substantially over the past 50 years. This substantial increase could be attributed to the evolution of modern medicine during this period (Waddington, 2000). Whilst the incidence of substance usage is likely to vary substantially from one sport to another, it is evident that doping is widespread, and, in some sports, many athletes are likely to be using performance-enhancing substances (Hoberman, Wilson, & Derse, 2001). In fact, evidence of substance use in lower levels of competition is increasing; young athletes, sub elite and semi elite athletes have all been linked to the usage of performance-enhancing substances (Buzzini, 2007; Donati, 2004). It has been suggested that some athletes are more likely to engage in substance use than others at certain stages in their career e.g. returning from injury, and would be willing to risk their long-term health by taking performance-enhancing substances to succeed within their sport and achieve a personal goal. Athletes are constantly setting goals and thus, make choices regarding the way these goals are achieved. Medical professionals, coaches, and even teammates might encourage athletes to use performance-enhancing subs... ... middle of paper ... ...rowing versus stop and start sports such as golf and tennis). CONCLUSION The use of Performance enhancing substances in sport is a real problem. There are many models and theories that aim to provide a better understanding of the complexities of the problem and how it can be best managed. However, as suggested in this study, the focus has been narrowly confined to an analysis of the data and statistical side of substance usage and has not taken into taken into consideration context. In conclusion, there has been insufficient research that considers the contextual factors and pressures that affect an athletes beliefs and decision-making and how these factors can be managed to make substance use less appealing, thus, the purpose of this study is to address the gap in research and develop models for the behaviour of athletes so they can be rationalized and understood.

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