Doping Prevalence among U.S. Elite Athletes Subject to Drug Testing under the World Anti-Doping Code

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Anti-Doping Research
• Public Health in Athletics

Background:

• Assessing doping prevalence in elite athletes is challenging due to sensitivity.
• Understanding true prevalence is vital for designing and evaluating anti-doping programs.
• This study focused on athletes subject to the World Anti-Doping Code in the US.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of doping among elite US athletes.
• To identify specific categories of banned substances and methods used.
• To inform the development of targeted anti-doping educational and detection efforts.

Main Methods:

• A web-delivered survey was administered to athletes.
• Direct questioning about the use of specific banned substances/methods was employed.
• Strategies to ensure anonymity and detect inconsistent responses were utilized.

Main Results:

• 6.5-9.2% of 1,398 respondents reported using prohibited substances or methods in the past year.
• Prevalence rates varied by substance category, from 0.1% (diuretics, gene editing) to 4.2% (cannabinoids).
• Cannabinoid use showed the highest prevalence among reported doping categories.

Conclusions:

• Accurate doping prevalence data is critical for sports governing bodies to assess and refine anti-doping initiatives.
• Analyzing prevalence by specific substance/method categories allows for more focused educational and detection strategies.
• This research provides insights into where anti-doping efforts should be concentrated.