Doping control for the team physician: a review of drug testing procedures in sport

Drug testing is now ubiquitous in sport, and it often falls to the team physician to perform a variety of roles including interpreting test results, designing drug-testing programs, acting as medical review officer, and providing therapeutic use exemptions, education, and counseling. Proper understanding of current testing methods for drugs such as anabolic-androgenic steroids, erythropoietin, and growth hormone is essential if the team physician is going to assume these positions. This article outlines the basics of athletic drug testing from the collection process through the interpretation of results to assist the team physician in this field.