Why are some drugs and substances banned in sports?

Many drugs are officially banned in sport because they may give an athlete an unfair advantage. They might also cause health issues.

When people use drugs in sport, they:

• make sport less fair
• can effect their health
• risk their career
• can be banned from some sports

Why do people use drugs in sports?

Athletes might be tempted to use 'performance-enhancing drugs' (PEDs) or 'performance and image-enhancing drugs' (PIEDs) to:

• become stronger
• build more muscle
• change their physical appearance
• speed up recovery
• become better at their chosen sport

Health professionals suggest that athletes can get their best results by:

• having a healthy diet
• getting enough sleep
• drinking enough water
• follow a structured training plan

What types of drugs are used to enhance performance?

Drugs that can improve your sporting ability are:

• illicit drugs
• legal drugs

Illicit drugs

Illicit drugs include:

• illegal drugs
• medicines that are used for non-medical purposes
• other substances used wrongly (such as inhalants)

Illicit drugs fall into 3 categories.

1. Stimulants: these speed up the messages between your brain and body. This includes amphetamines and cocaine.
2. Depressants: these slow down the messages between your brain and body. This includes heroin and cannabis.
3. Hallucinogens: these change your sense of reality. This includes LSD and magic mushrooms.

Legal drugs

Some medicines and supplements are banned by sporting authorities as they can improve your sporting ability. These include some:

• over-the-counter medicines
• prescription medicines
• sport and diet supplements

How are drugs in sport controlled?

Sport Integrity Australia works to keep sport fair and safe by stopping the use of performance-enhancing drugs. They follow Australian laws and international rules to make sure athletes compete honestly and safely.

Sporting Integrity Australia works closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which is an international agency set up to keep sport fair.

WADA produce The World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List, which lists all banned substances. The list is updated each year. Some of the banned substances are:

• anabolic steroids
• peptide hormones and growth factors (such as human growth hormone)
• stem cell doping
• hormones
• diuretics
• illicit drugs

Activities that can give an athlete an unfair advantage are also banned. For example, having a blood transfusion to add to the number of red blood cells in your body is banned.

How can I check if a drug is banned?

You can check any medicine that you take at the Global Drug Reference Online (GlobalDRO) website.

This shows which medicines are banned based on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

It has specific information about products sold in:

• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom
• United States

GlobalDRO does not show which supplements are banned.

What should I do if I need to take medicine for a health reason?

If you need the medicine for a health reason, you can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption. This allows you to use a medicine that is usually banned.

You can find out more about how to apply on the Sport Integrity Australia website.

What health problems can performance drugs cause?

Some drugs are safe when used for a medical reason and prescribed by a doctor. These medicines are not safe for healthy people, when used in higher amounts or with other medicine.

Stimulants

Stimulants speed up the messages between your brain and body. They may be used by athletes to feel less tired and more alert. Some stimulants are:

• amphetamines
• cocaine
• nicotine
• caffeine

Health risks include:

• anxiety
• sleep problems
• addiction
• higher chance of stroke and heart attack

Anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are a human-made medicine that is like the hormone testosterone. They are used to grow muscle size and strength. Possible health problems are:

• acne
• less growth
• liver problems
• becoming more aggressive

Females may also get:

• a lower voice
• growth of hair on the face
• less normal menstrual cycle

Males may also get:

• breast growth
• less sperm production
• erectile dysfunction (impotence)

Human growth hormones and peptide hormones

Human growth hormones and peptide hormones can be used by athletes to grow muscle size. In Australia, these substances are only allowed for medical purposes such as to treat cancer.

Some examples are:

• human growth hormone (HGH)
• insulin

Health risks include:

• high blood pressure
• heart attacks and heart failure
• arthritis
• bad headaches
• diabetes

Blood doping and EPO

Blood doping is the use of techniques and substances to have more red blood cells in your body. This can improve your stamina.

Health risks include:

• more pressure on your heart
• higher chance of heart attack
• stroke
• blood clots in your lungs

Beta blockers

Beta blockers can slow down your heart rate and help you feel less nervous . They can also stop shaky hands, which might help in sports like archery and golf.

Health risks include feeling:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• dizziness
• tiredness

Diuretics

Diuretics mean more water is lost from your body when you urinate (wee). They may be used by athletes to lower their weight or to flush other drugs out of the body. Some health problems are:

• dehydration
• dizziness
• muscle pain
• high blood sugar

Resources and Support

For a list of prohibited substances visit the WADA website.

To learn more about the use of banned substances in sport visit the Sport Integrity Australia website.

To find out more about the harmful effects of drugs in sport or to raise a concern or report an issue, visit Sport Integrity Australia. You can also call their general enquiries helpline on 1300 027 232.

To find out about the effects of legal and illegal drugs visit the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.