Athletes' Knowledge and Views on OTC Medication

Abstract

A questionnaire was administered to elite athletes from Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA representing 10 Olympic sports in order to explore knowledge and understanding of over-the-counter (OTC) medication since the removal of many of these substances from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, in 2004. Athletes demonstrated limited knowledge and understanding. Around half (50.5 %) knew the penalty incurred following a doping violation involving a banned OTC stimulant. The terms Monitoring Program and Specified Substance List were understood by 43.3 % and 67.5 % of respondents, respectively. Overall, the status of substances in relation to the Prohibited List was correctly identified in just 35.1 % of cases. As a whole, athletes were of the opinion that OTC stimulants posed a risk to health, were performance enhancing and that their use was against the spirit of sport. They were undecided as to whether these drugs should be returned to the Prohibited List. Elite athletes require targeted education programmes that will enable them to make informed decisions on the potential of OTC medications for therapeutic or performance enhancing purposes.

Key words

anti‐doping - WADA - prohibited list - OTC stimulants - monitoring program - questionnaires

References

• 1 Arvanti N. Ethics in sport. The Greek educational perspective on anti-doping.  Sport Soc. 2006;  9 354-370
• 2 Chester N. The Use of Exogenous Sympathomimetic Amines in Sport and Exercise. Liverpool John Moores University; PhD Thesis 2000
• 3 Chester N, Mottram D R, Reilly T, Powell M. Elimination of ephedrines in urine following multiple dosing: the consequences for athletes, in relation to doping control.  Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2004;  57 62-67
• 4 Chester N, Reilly T, Mottram D R. Over-the-counter drug use amongst athletes and non-athletes.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2003;  43 111-118
• 5 Haynes S. Approaches to drug education and information. In: Conference proceedings: 3rd Permanent World Conference in Anti-Doping in Sport. Bergen, Norway. 1991: 63-74
• 6 Hewson C, Yule P, Laurent D, Vogel C. Internet Research Methods: A Practical Guide for the Social and Behavioural Sciences. London; Sage Publications 2003
• 7 Laure P, Thouvenin F, Leclerf T. Attitudes of coaches towards doping.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2001;  41 132-136
• 8 Perry P J, Lund B C, Deninger M J, Kutscher E C, Schneider J. Anabolic steroid use in weightlifters and bodybuilders. An internet survey of drug utilization.  Clin J Sports Med. 2005;  15 326-330
• 9 Radford P. Drug education for elite athletes. In: Conference proceedings: 3rd Permanent World Conference in Anti-Doping in Sport. Bergen, Norway. 1991: 83-89
• 10 Somerville J S, Lewis M. Accidental breaches of the doping regulations in sport: is there a need to improve the education of sportspeople?.  Br J Sports Med. 2005;  62 512-516
• 11 UK Sport .The UK Anti-Doping Programme Results: Quarter 4 and Full Year Figures 2002/03. http://www.uksport.gov.uk/assets/File/Generic_Template_Documents/Drug_Free_Sport/Historical_results/UK_Sport_Anti-Doping_-_Jan-Mar_2003_and_Full_Year_Figures.pdf (accessed 12/2006). 
• 12 WADA .The World Anti-Doping Code http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/code_v3.pdf (accessed 12/2006). 2003
• 13 WADA .WADA launches coaches' tool kit. Play True, Issue 1 2007. Available online at: www.wada-ama.org (accessed 09/2007). 2007