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How big is the problem of drugs in sport today?
I see that President Bush is concerned about steroid use in sport and wants to hold a conference in Washington to discuss the topic. How big is the problem of drugs in sport and what can be done about it?
Drugs in sport has been a concern since the days of East Germany when the outstanding performances of their Olympic athletes were reported to result from performance enhancing drugs such as steroids. As we have witnessed in recent headlines the issue of drugs in sport has not gone away, but most likely increased and filtered down from elite athletes to younger populations. Athletes take steroids, human growth hormone and its various derivatives, and all sorts of supplements in efforts to get an edge over their opponents or keep up with opponents who they feel take drugs to enhance performance. Some boys are also taking steroids to improve their physical appearance, not necessarily their athletic performance.Obtaining accurate statistics on drug use in sport is a difficult task (because it is illegal and often not openly reported by respondents) and the evidence is often variable. However, there is enough evidence to show that performance enhancing drug use in sport is a significant problem that must be addressed, not only at the highest levels of sport but in elite youth and high school sports.
So what can be done to curb the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport? First, we must recognize that this is a problem. Too often coaches will push their athletes to get bigger and stronger, but not want to know how they do it. Coaches and school sports personnel must take responsibility for educating their athletes about the risks of performance enhancing drugs. This education must be realistic, however. Telling athletes steroids don’t work is ineffective because they do. What needs to be stressed are the negative side effects (e.g., risk of heart disease, change is sex organs, severe acne). These substances are also illegal and it must be stressed that if caught athletes face severe consequences for their possession and use.
Second, athletes often take drugs because of their motivation to get the edge and enhance performance. However, performance can be enhanced in other ways (using the most advanced strength training methods, mental training, learning the latest in recovery techniques) so the more knowledgeable a coach is relative to the scientific aspects of training the more he or she can pose healthy alternatives to performance enhancing drugs.
Third, coaches must set an example of healthy living. Actions speak louder than words. At the same time it must be recognized that people make mistakes and if a star athlete or coach does have a substance abuse problem then they need to get treatment and help.
Fourth, we must do a better job of educating parents about the prevalence and effects of performance enhancing drugs in sport. Believe it or not, there are reports of parents asking physicians for prescriptions of human growth hormones (note: like steroids these have legitimate medical uses) so their child can get the edge and perhaps earn a college scholarship.
Finally, while your question and President Bush’s comments have focused attention on performance enhancing drug use in sport we must remember that alcohol and recreational drug use are actually more prevalent problems with athletes. So we need to focus attention on recreational drug use and abuse as well.
Daniel Gould, Ph.D.
Director, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports
