[Doping in sport]

Abstract

The misuse of therapeutics for doping purposes has always been a serious issue in professional as well as amateur sport. With the introduction of lists containing prohibited substances and methods of doping by international sports federations as well as the International Olympic Committee, doping controls were established that have resulted in numerous adverse analytic findings. Due to the dynamic nature of the pharmaceutical market and constantly growing pool of new therapeutics, sports drug-testing authorities have been urged to expand and improve doping control analytical strategies. Referring to the current list of prohibited substances and methods of doping, effects and side effects of classes of drugs are summarized, and statistics are presented describing positive test results reported during the years 2003-2005.