TY - JOUR
T1 - Australian athletes’ knowledge of the WADA Prohibited Substances List and performance enhancing substances
AU - Orr, Rhonda
AU - Grassmayr, Matthew
AU - Macniven, Rona
AU - Grunseit, Anne
AU - Halaki, Mark
AU - Bauman, Adrian
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - Background: This study investigated athlete knowledge of the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited Substances List and the effects of four well-known performance enhancing substances (PES). Methods: A sample of 1925 elite and sub-elite athletes (mean age 20.6 years) completed a questionnaire about the banned status of 30 substances/methods and their knowledge of the effects of amphetamines, anabolic steroids, growth hormone and erythropoietin. Results: Athletes showed limited understanding of the WADA Prohibited Substances List, scoring 32.2% correct, 36.3% incorrect, and 31.4% indicated they did not know the status of 30 substances. Responses of >50% correct were given for only eight substances/method: anabolic steroids, amphetamines, blood doping, erythropoietin, caffeine, vitamins/minerals, protein powders and iron. Athletes demonstrated moderate knowledge of the desired effects of the four PES (49% correct), but poor knowledge of their adverse effects (29% correct). Age, sex, ethnicity, professional/amateur status, and current competition level were significant predictors of the number of correct responses (r 2 = 0.16, p < 0.05). Athletes most likely to provide correct responses were male, 19–22 year-olds, Caucasian, professional and international representatives. Conclusion: This comprehensive study of anti-doping demonstrated that Australian athletes had limited knowledge of a wide range of substances and PES. Better targeted drug education towards younger and non-professional athletes and evaluation of current anti-doping programs are warranted.
AB - Background: This study investigated athlete knowledge of the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited Substances List and the effects of four well-known performance enhancing substances (PES). Methods: A sample of 1925 elite and sub-elite athletes (mean age 20.6 years) completed a questionnaire about the banned status of 30 substances/methods and their knowledge of the effects of amphetamines, anabolic steroids, growth hormone and erythropoietin. Results: Athletes showed limited understanding of the WADA Prohibited Substances List, scoring 32.2% correct, 36.3% incorrect, and 31.4% indicated they did not know the status of 30 substances. Responses of >50% correct were given for only eight substances/method: anabolic steroids, amphetamines, blood doping, erythropoietin, caffeine, vitamins/minerals, protein powders and iron. Athletes demonstrated moderate knowledge of the desired effects of the four PES (49% correct), but poor knowledge of their adverse effects (29% correct). Age, sex, ethnicity, professional/amateur status, and current competition level were significant predictors of the number of correct responses (r 2 = 0.16, p < 0.05). Athletes most likely to provide correct responses were male, 19–22 year-olds, Caucasian, professional and international representatives. Conclusion: This comprehensive study of anti-doping demonstrated that Australian athletes had limited knowledge of a wide range of substances and PES. Better targeted drug education towards younger and non-professional athletes and evaluation of current anti-doping programs are warranted.
KW - doping
KW - elite sports
KW - banned substances
KW - questionnaire
KW - recreational drugs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045919677&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.025
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.025
M3 - Article
VL - 56
SP - 40
EP - 45
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
SN - 0955-3959
ER -