DOPING IN FITNESS SPORTS IS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM

Abstract

In the past few years doping has become a remarkable problem in hobby fitness sports. Since almost 10% of the total population in western societies practice fitness sports, doping has rather become a matter of public health with economic impact than being of sport ethical or individual importance only. PURPOSE As a basis for future prevention and intervention, we examined the influence of the health care system on the use of doping substances. METHODS Using a standardized, anonymous questionnaire, 621 hobby athletes from 113 fitness studios, with a total of 90.100 members, were questioned about their use of doping substances. In the event of positive answers to drug use, we inquired further about the type, number and source of used substances, form of administration, as well as whether a physician was overseeing intake. RESULTS 19.2% of the men and 3.9% of the women answered positively to using doping substances. 83.5% reported taking AAS, and 40.3% reported using Beta-2-Recepor-Agonists. 51.5% of the AAS abusers took both oral and injected drugs, while 35.3% took oral forms only and 13.2% injected only. 39.7% of the athletes were found to use only one substance, 42.6% took two to four substances, and 17.7% used more than four substances. 16.7% of the athletes who doped obtained the substances exclusively from physicians or pharmacists, and another 29.8% used the black market in addition to these other two sources. 58.3% of the athletes who took more than four substances but only 34.5% of those who took two to four and only 11.1% of those using one substance reported their physician as source. In total 32.1% of the participants assured to be supervised by a physician. CONCLUSION Doping in fitness sports is strongly supported by the health-care system. Before introducing preventative programs, physicians and pharmacists should be intensively educated on the negative consequences of doping.