Kara Sears
It is widely believed that nearly half of professional athletes break the law by using banned drugs or methods to enhance their performance. This is based on a survey conducted by Harvard University, which asked more than 2,000 elite sportsmen and women competing at World Championships in Athletics (WCA) and Pan-Arab Games (PAG) whether they had broken the rules in the last 12 months. The results showed that nearly one-third of WCA athletes and 45% of PAG athletes admitted to violating anti-doping regulations. These findings contradict biological tests or blood and urine tests, which typically detect doping in only 1-3% of competitors at elite events.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of professional athletes who break the law | Nearly 50% |
| Percentage of athletes who admit to violating anti-doping regulations | 33% of WCA athletes |
| Percentage of athletes at the Pan-Arab Games who admit to violating anti-doping regulations | 45% |
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What You'll Learn
- Nearly half of professional athletes surveyed break rules to enhance performance
- Doping tests fail to pick up most of the cheating in professional sport
- Russia's Ekaterina Galitskaya was banned from the Rio Olympics over evidence of state-sponsored doping
- Anti-doping checks at the Rio Olympics were chaotic
- There is greater investment in educating elite athletes about the dangers of taking banned substances
Nearly half of professional athletes surveyed break rules to enhance performance
The survey, carried out in 2011 and commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), also found that nearly half of professional athletes are using banned drugs or methods to enhance their performance. This could not only compromise fair play but could also be detrimental to the health of athletes.
The results of the survey highlight the need for greater investment in educating elite and up-and-coming athletes about the dangers and consequences of taking banned substances. It also emphasises the importance of intelligence and investigations as an alternative way of catching those who seek to break the rules.
The effectiveness of anti-doping checks has been called into question, with reports of chaos at the Rio Olympics due to no-shows, security lapses, and unauthorised individuals gaining access to restricted areas during the drug-testing process.
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Doping tests fail to pick up most of the cheating in professional sport
The survey asked more than 2,000 elite sportsmen and women who were competing at World Championships in Athletics (WCA) and Pan-Arab Games (PAG) whether they had broken the rules in the last 12 months. Nearly one third of WCA athletes admitted to violating anti-doping regulations and 45 per cent of those at the PAG, figures which were described as 'disappointing and concerning' by sports commentators.
The statistics contradict biological tests or blood and urine which typically detect doping in only one to three per cent of competitors at elite events. The surveys were carried out at events in 2011 and commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
There is now greater investment in educating elite and up-and-coming athletes about the dangers and consequences of taking banned substances, as well as a greater emphasis on intelligence and investigations as an alternative way of catching those who seek to break the rules.
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Russia's Ekaterina Galitskaya was banned from the Rio Olympics over evidence of state-sponsored doping
A survey by Harvard University found that nearly half of professional athletes are using banned drugs or methods to enhance their performance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) also found that nearly one third of WCA athletes admitted to violating anti-doping regulations and 45 per cent of those at the PAG.
Russia's Ekaterina Galitskaya was banned from competing in the Rio Olympics due to evidence of state-sponsored doping. Galitskaya is a Russian hurdler who competed in the Women's 100-metre hurdles at the 2012 Summer Olympics, reaching the semi-finals. In February 2019, the Court of Arbitration for Sport handed her a four-year ban for doping, starting from 1 February 2019, with all her results from 15 July 2012 to 31 December 2014 disqualified. On appeal, her ban was reduced from four years to three years.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) banned Russia from competing in its competitions in November 2015, and upheld the country's suspension into 2019. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) opened procedures against 12 suspected Russian dopers, finding them guilty of ADRVs (anti-doping rule violations). The Russian Olympic team's use of anabolic steroids could have long-term effects on the athletes' health, including testicular shrinkage and breast development in men, and deepened voice, reduced breast size, balding and facial hair growth in women.
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Anti-doping checks at the Rio Olympics were chaotic
A survey conducted by Harvard University found that nearly half of professional athletes are using banned drugs or methods to enhance their performance. The World Anti-Doping Agency's report on the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games revealed serious failings in the anti-doping programme. The report found that many athletes targeted for testing could not be found and over 50% of planned tests had to be cancelled. Out of 11,470 athletes, over a third had no record of any testing in 2016. Other issues included inadequate blood testing in high-risk sports, data entry errors, and a lack of coordination among the anti-doping department's management team.
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games were marred by further chaos and controversy. The Olympic Games as we knew them were described as being on a "death watch", with signs of incompetent officials, doping, and corruption. The host city's first responders greeted arrivals at the airport with a banner that read, "Welcome to Hell!" warning that visitors to Rio de Janeiro would not be safe.
The anti-doping checks at the Rio Olympics were particularly chaotic. Organisers admitted that unauthorised individuals had gained access to restricted areas during the drug-testing process, while a shortage of staff left many testers at breaking point. Some testers even walked out due to the immense pressure. The process of sample collection was undermined by no-shows and security lapses, with over 50% of planned tests aborted. This resulted in over a third of athletes having no record of any testing in 2016.
The World Anti-Doping Agency's report on the Rio Olympics revealed serious failings in the anti-doping programme. The report found that many athletes targeted for testing could not be found, and there was a lack of coordination among the anti-doping department's management team. In addition, there were data entry errors that resulted in nearly 100 samples not being matched to athletes.
The Rio Olympics also saw the introduction of advanced anti-doping technology, with samples collected for gene doping tests to be conducted after the games. This new test checks for synthetic DNA that codes for erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that increases red blood cell production and athletic performance.
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There is greater investment in educating elite athletes about the dangers of taking banned substances
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has commissioned surveys at events in 2011 to detect the use of banned substances, but the results have only just been published following years of rows. The prevalence of banned substances not only compromises fair play, but could also be detrimental to the health of athletes.
Last year, the Telegraph disclosed how anti-doping checks at the Rio Olympics had descended into chaos after the process of sample collection was undermined by no-shows and security lapses. Organisers admitted that unauthorised individuals had gained access to restricted areas during the drug-testing process, while a shortage of staff left many testers at breaking point. Some walked out because the pressure was so great.
There is now a greater emphasis on intelligence and investigations as an alternative way of catching those who seek to break the rules.
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Frequently asked questions
Nearly half of professional athletes surveyed admitted to breaking the rules to enhance their performance.
They use banned drugs or methods to enhance their performance.
Nearly one third of WCA athletes and 45% of PAG athletes admitted to violating anti-doping regulations.
Athletes have expressed concern about the prevalence of doping, which compromises fair play and could be detrimental to the health of athletes.
There is now greater investment in educating elite and up-and-coming athletes about the dangers and consequences of taking banned substances, as well as an increased emphasis on intelligence and investigations to catch those who break the rules.
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