Sports and Drugs

Table of Contents

Introduction
Pros
- Pro 1: PED use is so prevalent that banning it only disadvantages those not doping and hinders the progress of sports.
- Pro 2: PEDs help athletes to recover from injuries and to endure the rigors of sports.
- Pro 3: PEDs can be regulated and safely used.
Pro Quotes
Cons
- Con 1: PEDs violate the spirit and integrity of sport.
- Con 2: Despite any benefit in injury recovery, PEDs are dangerous and can still yield an unfair competitive advantage.
- Con 3: Allowing PEDs will increase youth drug use and other unhealthy activities.
Con Quotes
Sports Drug Policies
Banned Performance-enhancing Substances and Methods
- Alcohol
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Anabolic Steroids and Agents
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Beta-2 Agonists
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Beta-Blockers
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Cannabinoids
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Diuretics and Other Masking Agents
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Glucocorticosteroids
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Hormone Antagonists and Modulators
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Hormones and Related Substances
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Narcotics
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Stimulants
  - Medical Uses:
  - Effects on Athletes:
  - Side Effects:
  - Examples:
- Banned Methods
  - Blood Doping
    - Effects on Athletes
    - Side Effects
  - Chemical and Physical Manipulation of Samples
    - Effects on Athletes
    - Side Effects
  - Gene Doping
  - Techno-doping
Doping Cases at the Olympics
- Olympics Doping Cases by Games
- Olympics Doping Cases by Country
- Olympics Doping Cases by Sport
- Olympics Doping Cases by Drug(s) or Drug Offense
Historical Timeline
- 776 bce–1959
  - 776–393 bce - Ancient Greeks Use Performance-Enhancing Drugs
  - 100 ce - Roman Gladiators Use Stimulants and Hallucinogens to Prevent Fatigue and Injury
  - Late 19th Century - French Cyclists and Lacrosse Players Drink Wine and Coca Leaves to Fight Fatigue and Hunger
  - 1904–20 - Performance Enhancing Drugs Used in the Modern Olympic Games
  - 1928 - First Rule Against Doping in Sports
  - 1940–45 - Nazis Test Steroids on Prisoners and Adolf Hitler
  - 1940–45 - Soldiers Use Amphetamines during WWII
  - 1950s - Athletes Begin Taking Amphetamines Used by Soldiers in WWII
  - 1958 - FDA Approves First Anabolic Steroid for Sale in U.S.
- 1960–89
  - Aug. 26, 1960 - First Athlete to Die in Olympic Competition Due to Doping
  - July 13, 1967 - Cyclist on Amphetamines Is First Tour de France Doping Death
  - 1967 - International Olympic Commitee (IOC) Establishes Medical Commission to Fight Doping
  - Feb. 1968 - First Drug Testing at Olympic Games
  - May 4, 1968 - First Horse Disqualified from Kentucky Derby for Banned Substance
  - Oct. 1968 - First Olympic Athlete Disqualified for Doping Violation
  - 1972 - First Full-Scale Drug Testing of Olympic Athletes for Narcotics and Stimulants
  - 1975 - Anabolic Steroids Added to the IOC’s Banned Substances List
  - 1976 - Steroid Testing Conducted for the First Time at the Montreal Olympics
  - 1983 - Surprise Drug Testing at Pan Am Games Leads Many Athletes to Withdraw from Competition
  - Sep. 27, 1988 - Ben Johnson Stripped of Gold Medal after Positive Drug Test
  - Nov. 18, 1988 - President Ronald Reagan Signs Act Outlawing Nonmedical Steroid Sales
- 1990–99
  - Oct. 5, 1990 - Congress Passes Anabolic Steroids Control Act
  - June 7, 1991 - Major League Baseball Bans Steroids
  - Dec. 2, 1991 - Former East German Swimming Coaches Admit to Two Decades of Doping
  - May 14, 1992 - Former NFL Player Dies of Brain Cancer after Using Steroids and Human Growth Hormone for Two Decades
  - Sept.–Oct. 1994 - Chinese Swimmers Fail Drug Tests Three Times More Than Any Other Nation
  - Dec. 15, 1994 - First British Female to Test Positive for Performance-Enhancing Drugs Receives Four-Year Ban
  - May 15, 1997 - Bud Selig Issues Memo Repeating the MLB Ban on Steroids
  - 1998 - Irish Swimmer Suspended for Pouring Whiskey into Urine Sample to Mask Doping
  - 1998 - Mark McGwire Admits to Using a Steroid Precursor
  - Feb. 1998 - Snowboarder Who Tests Positive for Marijuana Has Gold Medal Taken then Returned
  - Nov. 10, 1999 - World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Is Established
- 2000-2009
  - Oct. 1, 2000 - U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Begins Operations
  - 2002 - Anti-Doping Pioneer Identifies First Designer Steroid
  - May 28, 2002 - Former Baseball Player Says 50% of MLB Players Use Steroids
  - Aug. 30, 2002 - Steroid Testing Included in MLB Labor Agreement
  - Apr. 21, 2003 - Wade Exum Report Alleges Cover-Up of Doping by Over 100 American Athletes
  - Sept. 3, 2003 - BALCO Is Raided by Federal Investigators
  - Nov. 7, 2003 - British Sprinter Dwain Chambers Banned from Olympics for Life for Positive THG Test
  - Nov. 13, 2003 - High Number of Positive Tests Leads MLB to Institute Penalties for Doping
  - Dec. 2003 - 10 Baseball Players, including Barry Bonds, Called to Testify about BALCO
  - Oct. 22, 2004 - President Bush Signs the Anabolic Steroid Control Act
  - 2004 - World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Takes over Control of the Prohibited List
  - 2004 - WADA Removes Caffeine from the List of Banned Substances
  - Jan. 13, 2005 - Penalties for Positive Drug Tests Implemented by Major League Baseball
  - Jan. 19, 2006 - First NHL Player to Test Positive for Banned Substance Suspended from International Competition But Not from NHL
  - Feb. 9, 2006 - U.S. Skeleton Racer Banned for Use of Hair Growth Medicine on the Eve of the Winter Olympics
  - Dec. 29, 2006 - President Bush Signs a Law Banning Gene Doping in Sports
  - July 23, 2006 - Sep. 20, 2007 - Floyd Landis Wins the Tour de France But Loses Title When He Tests Positive for Elevated Testosterone Levels
  - Jan. 24, 2007 - NFL Announces Stricter Anti-Doping Policies
  - June 25, 2007 - WWE Wrestler Commits Murder/Suicide after Injecting Steroids
  - Aug. 7, 2007 - Barry Bonds Hits Record 756th Home Run amid Speculation of Steroid Use
  - Sep. 24, 2007 - DEA Announces Largest Steroid Bust in U.S. History
  - Oct. 5, 2007 - Track Star Marion Jones Admits to Steroid Use during 2000 Olympics
  - Nov. 1, 2007 - German Athletes and Their Children Suffer Health Problems 40 Years after Non-consensual Doping
  - Nov. 1, 2007 - Tennis Player Martina Hingis Retires from Tennis after Testing Positive for Cocaine
  - Nov. 15, 2007 - Barry Bonds Indicted by Grand Jury for Lying about Steroid Use
  - Dec. 13, 2007 - Former Senator George Mitchell Reports Widespread Use of Steroids in Baseball
  - Jan. 11, 2008 - Track Star Marion Jones Sentenced to Six Months in Prison
  - Jan. 26, 2008 - All Russian Rowing Officials Banned from Competition for One Year
  - Feb. 12, 2008 - World Series Winning Pitcher Roger Clemens Denies Allegations That He Took HGH and Testosterone
  - Apr. 10, 2008 - IOC Rules Teammates of Marion Jones Must Return Olympic Medals
  - July 31, 2008 - Seven Russians Caught Doping Prior to Beijing Olympics
  - Sep. 5, 2008 - Steroids Banned at the Kentucky Derby
  - Oct. 16, 2008 - First Doping Suspensions in History of Major League Soccer
  - Dec. 2, 2008 - Six NFL Players Suspended for Taking Steroid Masking Agent
  - Dec. 8, 2008 - NASCAR Announces Stricter Anti-Doping Policy
  - Jan. 31, 2009 - US Swimmer Michael Phelps Caught Smoking Marijuana and Suspended for Three Months
  - Feb. 7, 2009 - New York Yankees’ Third Baseman Alex Rodriguez Reportedly Tested Positive for Steroids in 2003
  - Mar. 24, 2009 - Soccer Federations Reject WADA’s Stricter Drug Testing Policies
  - Mar. 28, 2009 - Aug. 6, 2009 - French Tennis Player Blames Positive Cocaine Test on a Girl He Kissed at a Night Club
  - Apr. 17, 2009 - U.S. Cyclist Tyler Hamilton Announces His Retirement After Testing Positive for Steroid DHEA
  - May 2, 2009 - Winner of the Kentucky Derby Is Tested for Steroids for the First Time
  - May 4, 2009 - U.S. Swimmer’s Two-Year Doping Suspension Cut to One Year Due to Circumstances
  - May 7, 2009 - Los Angeles Dodger Manny Ramirez Suspended for 50 Games
  - May 17, 2009 - Bodybuilders Flee Testers
  - July 30, 2009 - Two Players from the Red Sox 2004 and 2007 World Series Teams Tested Positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs in 2003
  - Aug. 6, 2009 - NBA Player Rashard Lewis Receives 10 Game Suspension for Banned Substance
- 2010-2019
  - Jan. 7, 2010 - Boxers Walk Away from $25 Million Each in Disagreement over Drug Testing Procedures
  - Jan. 11, 2010 - Mark McGwire Admits to Using Steroids during His Baseball Career
  - May 19, 2010 - Floyd Landis Admits to Doping for Most of His Career
  - Aug. 19, 2010 - Roger Clemens Indicted on Charges of Lying to Congress about Using Performance Enhancing Drugs
  - Mar. 21, 2011 - Barry Bonds Found Guilty on One Count of Obstruction of Justice in Steroids and HGH Case
  - Apr. 8, 2011 - Manny Ramirez Retires after Failing Another Drug Test
  - July 16, 2011 - North Korean Soccer Players Reportedly Struck by Lightning, Treated with Deer Musk, and Tested Positive for Steroids
  - Aug. 4, 2011 - NFL to Become First Major American Sports League to Conduct Blood Tests
  - Aug. 18, 2011 - First Professional Athlete in the U.S. to Test Positive for HGH Is Suspended for 50 Games
  - Feb. 3, 2012 - Two-Year Doping Investigation of Cyclist Lance Armstrong Ends with No Charges
  - Feb. 6, 2012 - 2010 Tour de France Winner Alberto Contador Found Guilty of Doping and Stripped of Title
  - Feb. 23, 2012 - Ryan Braun Becomes First Professional Baseball Player to Successfully Appeal a Positive Drug Test
  - Aug. 23, 2012 - Lance Armstrong Stripped of His Seven Tour de France Titles After Declining to Fight Doping Charges
  - Aug. 5, 2013 - Alex Rodriguez Suspended through 2014; 12 Players Suspended 50 Games for Violating MLB Drug Policy
  - Apr. 22, 2015 - Barry Bonds Obstruction of Justice Conviction Overturned
  - Aug. 2, 2015 - Leaked Doping Tests Indicate Widespread Doping in Track and Field, Olympics, and Marathons
  - Nov. 9, 2015 - Report Alleges Widespread Doping by Russian Track and Field Athletes
  - June 8, 2016 - Maria Sharapova Banned from Tennis for Two Years
  - July 21, 2016 - 2016 Olympics Ban for Russian Track and Field Athletes Upheld
  - Mar. 1, 2019 - Top-Ranked Bridge Player Suspended for Doping
  - Dec. 9, 2019 - WADA Bans Russia from Global Competition
- 2020-present
  - Mar. 10, 2020 - 27 People Indicted in Horse Racing Doping Scandal
  - Mar. 15, 2020 - NFL Loosens Rules on Players’ Marijuana Use
  - Apr. 2020 - United States Anti-Doping Agency Trials Virtual Drug Testing
  - Oct. 26, 2020 - Doping Tests Dramatically Limited by COVID-19
  - Dec. 4, 2020 - Trump Signs Anti-Doping Law
  - Dec. 17, 2020 - Russia’s Doping Ban Cut in Half
  - June 15, 2021 - American Runner Shelby Houlihan Banned for Four Years for Positive Anabolic Steroids Test
  - July 1, 2021 - American Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson Tests Positive for Marijuana
  - Sep. 14, 2021 - WADA to Review Status of Marijuana as Prohibited Drug
  - Feb. 7, 2022 - MLB Steroid Testing Paused for First Time in 20 Years
  - Sep. 23, 2022 - Teen Russian Tennis Player Banned for Nine Months for Doping Violation
  - Oct 21, 2022 - Former Tennis #1 Simona Halep Suspended for Doping
  - Jan. 23, 2024 - NBA Suspends Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson for Positive PED Test
  - Jan. 29, 2024 - Russian Figure Skater Kamila Valieva Banned for Four Years
  - Apr. 20, 2024 - Chinese Doping Scandal Ignites
  - Jan. 8, 2025 - Biden Administration Withholds Funds From WADA
  - Feb. 15, 2025 - Jannik Sinner Banned from Tennis for Three Months
Discussion Questions
Take Action
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Sports and drugs

Paralympic Games

Read Next

Car with a pickle design in the Zagreb Red Bull Soapbox Race, Zagreb, Croatia, September 14, 2019. (games, races, sports)

10 Unusual Sports

NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.

10 Great Sports Rivalries

golf. Competitive and cheating golfer wears golf gloves on golf club greens and prepares golf ball for lucky hole in one. Unsportsmanlike, sports, cheater

7 Unsportsmanlike Sportsmen

Discover

Hemp (Cannabis sativa).

9 Mind-Altering Plants

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd

Causes of the Great Depression

King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”

Easter Procession of Maria Santisima del Sacromonte in Granada, Spain. This statue is known as Virgen de los Gitanos or The Virgin of the Gypsies.

What is Holy Week?

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) standing on rock, side view, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Fastest Animals on Earth

Sports and Drugs: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

Sports and drugs

Paralympic Games

See All Images →

Topics

sports doping performance-enhancing drug Golf Paying College Athletes National Anthem Protest Olympics College Football Playoffs Cheerleading Fighting in Hockey Odds of CTE Increase 34 Percent with Each Year of Hockey 2024 Paris Olympic Medals Tarnish