Consequences of Doping
Doping refers to the occurrence of one or more anti-doping rule violations as outlined in the World Anti-Doping Code. Engaging in doping practices not only breaches the rules but fundamentally contradicts the spirit of sport, which is rooted in fairness and integrity.
Doping can have severe repercussions across three primary areas: Physical and Mental Health, Social and Economic Effects, and Legal Sanctions. Each of these areas can be severely impacted by the use of prohibited substances or methods.
Physical and Mental Health Risks
The use of prohibited substances can lead to irreversible organ damage, stunted growth in adolescents, and increased risk of severe diseases and conditions like heart attacks, hypertension, and diabetes. Such substances can also adversely affect psychological well-being, causing conditions such as anxiety, depression, and more severe mental disorders like psychosis and obsessive disorders.
Some physiological and psychological side effects of anabolic steroids include liver damage and premature closure of the growth centers of long bones (in adolescents) which may result in stunted growth. Increased aggressiveness and sexual appetite, sometimes resulting in abnormal sexual and criminal behavior, often associated with depression, and in some cases, suicide. Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators may also cause organ failures.
Human growth hormones (HGH) can cause hypertension, heart attacks, thyroid problems, severe headaches, loss of vision, acromegaly (protruding or enlarged jaw, brow, skull, hands and feet), high blood pressure and heart failure, diabetes and tumors, crippling arthritis.
Blood doping can cause increased stress on the heart, blood clotting, strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism. Stimulants can cause insomnia, anxiety, weight loss, dependence and addiction, dehydration, tremors, increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiac arrhythmia.
Social and Economic Consequences
- Loss of sponsorship deals.
- Loss of income especially from government.
- Athlete and or teammates may be stripped of previous achievements.
- Damage to future career prospects.
- Isolation from peers and sport.
- Damaged relationships with friends and family.
- Effects on emotional and psychological well-being.
- Permanent damage to reputation from bad media publicity which can lead to public contempt.
- Loss of standing/ranking, respect and credibility.
- Pressure placed on athlete as well as persons close to athlete e.g. family members and support personnel.
- Reimbursement of prize moneys and of the sponsorship money.
Legal Sanctions
An Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) will have an impact on an Athlete’s ability to train and compete. For coaches and other Athlete Support Personnel (ASP), a ban may mean that they are no longer able to work with Athletes. A sanction resulting from an ADRV can range from a warning to a lifetime ban from all sports. It is also important to note that individuals banned in the sport will also be prohibited from competing, coaching or working with athletes in any other capacity in a different sport. Beyond the legal consequences, an increasing number of public authorities and governments have adopted legislations that treat doping as a criminal act. Consequently, in addition to being ineligible to coach or compete, you may face criminal charges in your country. Depending on the National legislation and the degree of the violation, charges can lead to fines, social service requirements and even incarceration.
Importance of Clean Sport
The strict regulations and severe consequences of doping underline the importance of adhering to clean sport principles. Athletes and support personnel must be well-versed in anti-doping rules, the risks associated with supplement use and the contents of the Prohibited List, Medications & Supplements Section to avoid the pitfalls of doping violations.