Drugs in Sport: The Role of the Physician
July 2001
in “
Journal of Endocrinology
”
Studysummary This article discusses the shifting role of physicians in addressing performance-enhancing drug use in sports and highlights that the same benefits may be achieved through dietary and training advice, but it reports no new results.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The document discussed the historical use of anabolic steroids in sports, noting that physicians only acknowledged their performance-enhancing effects in the 1980s. By 1993, a significant number of children in Canada had used these drugs, and they became the third most commonly offered drugs to children in the UK. The document emphasized the need for physicians to maintain impartiality and promote harm minimization strategies, advocating for natural performance improvement through diet and training. It questioned the integrity of achievements gained through drug use, suggesting that such victories serve sponsors and politicians rather than true sportsmanship.
