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. 2016 Oct 26;11(10):e0165103.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165103. eCollection 2016.

Sport-Induced Substance Use-An Empirical Study to the Extent within a German Sports Association

Monika Frenger  1 , Werner Pitsch  1 , Eike Emrich  1
Affiliations

Sport-Induced Substance Use-An Empirical Study to the Extent within a German Sports Association

Monika Frenger et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

In cooperation with the Sports Association of the Palatinate (SBP), a survey was conducted on substance use by recreational and amateur athletes. Distribution of the online questionnaire took place by means of chain-referral sampling, and questions on substance use were presented using the randomized response technique (RRT) to protect the anonymity of respondents and prevent socially desirable answers. The estimated lowest limit for the population share for use of prohibited substances during the last season (4%) and for lifetime use (3.6%) did not differ significantly. Approximately 21% of respondents had used substances for training or competitions that were taken for a purpose other than performance enhancement (e.g., to improve their mood or to help with recuperation from a minor injury or illness) in the last year. 49% had done so at some point in their life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Overview of the questions about the embarrassing characteristic substance use that are asked using the RRT.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Example of an RRT question similar to those asked from respondents.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Results of the RRT questions for doping and sport-induced self-medication (medi).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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