Les conduites à risques des enfants et adolescents vis-à-vis du dopage sportif

Abstract

The main purpose of this review is to examine the patterns and prevalence of doping among child and adolescent athletes. The number of abnormal test findings recorded by anti-doping authorities worldwide cannot be considered to be a reliable picture of the use of prohibited substances and methods. Only specific questionnaires to detect the use of prohibited substances are useful to identify the extent of doping despite the risk of biased responses in self-reported declarations. Based on the different surveys and types of questionnaires it is believed that 1.5 to 6% of young athletes use prohibited substances. Prohibited substances are also being used out the sportive framework. Several studies showed that approximately 3 to 11% of non-athlete students use anabolic steroids. There were also significant associations between the use of anabolic steroids and the use of marijuana, cocaine, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy nutrition, etc. The use of nutritional supplements by athletes is associated with a twofold risk, first to use adulterated supplements, either by accidental contamination or by deliberate spiking, and second to use prohibited substances with doping being viewed as a gradual progression from the use of nutritional supplements to the misuse of harder drugs. That is why nutritional supplements should not be used by young athletes (under 18 years) except where medically indicated. Doping has of multifactorial origins; the immediate family, friends, team staff, and sport doctors mainly exacerbate individual psychological factors. The estimated prevalence of doping in young athletes, and the well-known adverse effects of most prohibited substances, including hormones, anabolic steroids and stimulants, on developing endocrine and nervous systems in growing athletes, support the development of a specific policy for the prevention of doping in sports, especially designed for young athletes, their family, medical and team staffs.