Performance-enhancing drugs attitudes among young amateur Croatian athletes

Abstract

Abstract Background Recent studies revealed that amateur athletes, especially young ones, have an increasing tendency of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) usage. The aim of this study was to explore PEDs attitudes among young, amateur Croatian athletes. Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was done in convenient sample of young amateur Croatian athletes during the August 2019 to January 2020 at the occupational and sports medicine office in Eastern Croatia. Performance Enhancement Attitudes Scale (PEAS) was used for evaluation of athletes' attitudes towards doping. Results There were 306 athletes median age 18.0 (interquartile range (IR) 15.0 - 21.0) years; 62.7% females and 37.3% males. According to the age there were 52.9% of adolescents (aged 13 to 18 years) and 47.1% of young adults (aged 19 to 24 years). Regarding the type of sport there were 19.6% of subjects who played individual sports and 80.4% of them who played team sports. Considering the length of sport engagement 49.7% of subjects were engaged in their sport for 1 to 5 years and 50.3% of them were engaged in their sport for 6 or more years. The prevalence of current PEDs usage was 1.3%, while past PEDs usage prevalence was 3.3%. Current PEDs usage was more frequent among young adults (P = 0.048) and athletes playing individual sports (P = 0.001). Athletes who were engaged in sports for 1 to 5 years had more permissive attitudes toward PEDs (P < 0.001) as measured by the PEAS. The study did not establish any correlation between current or past PEDs usage and attitudes toward PEDs. Conclusions PEDs usage is present among young Croatian amateur athletes. There is a need for interventions directed toward the prevention of PEDs usage in an observed subgroup of athletes. Key messages In order to be more effective doping prevention strategies should take into account athletes’ attitudes towards doping. Public awareness and knowledge about doping in sports should be increased in order to achieve more efficient anti-doping programs.