Drugs in sport. The first 5 years of testing in South Africa

Since 1983 screening procedures have been developed to detect prohibited substances in urine specimens collected from competitors in sport. Gas chromatography is used for the detection of stimulant drugs and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the detection of anabolic steroids. Of 679 urine samples analysed, a positive result was obtained for 45 (6.6%). Fencamfamine was the stimulant most frequently detected, while the ephedrines as a group accounted for 18 positive samples. These findings indicate the necessity to continue the monitoring of drug use and abuse in sport.