Drugs & Sports

Combating Doping in Sports

Doping is the use of a substance that artificially enhances athletic performance. These substances often pose a significant risk to the health and well-being of athletes. The use of performance-enhancing drugs undermines the ideals of sports and devalues and debases the rewards of competition. Despite the range of health risks and ethical implications, many athletes at both the professional and amateur levels use these dangerous substances.

The President stated his commitment to fighting doping in sports in his 2004 State of the Union Address, and the Administration has aggressively pursued education campaigns, research, and drug testing with meaningful sanctions, as well as cooperation among domestic and international partners both public and private. These efforts have coincided with a decline in the number of young people using performance-enhancing drugs. According to a national survey, use of steroids among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined is down from 2001 by 40 percent, 42 percent, and 22 percent for lifetime, past year, and past month use, respectively.

One of the most effective ways to combat doping is by supporting and working collaboratively with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA was established to harmonize and coordinate an effective international program to detect, deter, and prevent doping. The United States plays a leadership role in WADA, serving on WADA’s governing board and on many working committees. The United States is the largest funder of the organization and was also recently elected to represent the entire 41-nation region of the Americas on WADA’s Executive Committee.

The most important initiative in WADA’s 8-year history is the development of the World Anti-Doping Code. The Code sets forth the procedural ground rules and list of banned substances that govern drug testing in Olympic sports. The Code is founded on the principle that doping is not only cheating but also poses a grave threat to an athlete’s health and safety. Consequently, the list of banned substances includes anabolic agents, narcotics, and growth hormones, as well as stimulants and illicit drugs such as cocaine and marijuana. In the 3 years since it was implemented, the Code has been recognized globally as an effective tool for creating a level playing field in Olympic competition, regardless of a nation’s domestic policies on drug use. An updated version of the Code was approved in Madrid, Spain at the 3rd World Conference on Drugs in Sport in November 2007.

The entry into force in 2007 of an International Convention Against Doping in Sport also marked a historic milestone in the fight against doping. Drafted under the auspices of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and with significant leadership from the United States, the Convention sets forth the commitment of governments worldwide to emphasize international cooperation and to give priority to anti-doping efforts. The Convention has already been ratified by more than 70 nations. The ratification process in the United States continues to progress rapidly. While the Convention does not alter the manner in which sports operate and are regulated in the United States, ratification of this international document sends a clear message about our commitment to eliminate doping in sports.

The Federal Government has also realized success in disrupting the criminal trafficking of performance-enhancing drugs. A number of highly publicized steroid trafficking cases demonstrate how Federal and State law enforcement agencies are collaborating with sports authorities and foreign governments and placing an increased emphasis on disrupting the trafficking of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

For example, United States law enforcement officials recently announced the culmination of Operation Raw Deal, an international case targeting the global underground trade of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and counterfeit prescription drugs. The investigation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), represented the largest steroid enforcement action in United States history and took place in conjunction with enforcement operations in nine countries. It resulted in 143 Federal search warrants, 124 arrests nationwide, and the seizure of 56 steroid labs across the United States. In total, 11.4 million steroid dosage units were seized, as well as 242 kilograms of raw steroid powder of Chinese origin. The scope of this investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of government authorities working collaboratively with anti-doping organizations to combat the scourge of drug use in sports and beyond.

The general public is becoming less tolerant of doping and is more aware of and concerned about its consequences. People understand that what happens at the elite level of sport often has a trickle-down effect on children, who want to emulate sports stars. In 2007, New Jersey, Florida, and Texas established random steroid testing programs specifically tailored to high school athletes. These programs will complement the broad-based education and prevention efforts of the United States Anti-Doping Agency.