Drug use in sports: a veritable arena for pharmacists.
OBJECTIVE
To describe opportunities and obligations for pharmacists regarding doping control in sports, and to present information and resources on drugs and dietary supplements that are popular among athletes for performance enhancement.


METHODS
Sports medicine journals and articles in English obtained from Medline (1966 through June 2003) using the search terms doping in sports, drugs in sports, dietary supplements, sports, amphetamine, stimulants, ephedrine, ephedra, caffeine, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, erythropoietin, darbepoetin, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and creatine. Information was also obtained from sports-governing agencies, such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the International Olympic Committee.


METHODS
Studies and reports that were credible and scientifically sound that evaluated the ergogenic effects of drugs and dietary supplements.


METHODS
By the author.


RESULTS
Pharmacists can participate in doping control programs in a number of ways. Pharmacists also have an obligation when counseling, advising, and treating athletes to help them avoid banned substances. Athletes use a host of drugs for their performance-enhancing effects, many of which are banned by major sports-governing bodies. Myriad dietary supplements are marketed to athletes, claiming to have ergogenic effects. Some of these popular supplements have proven performance-enhancing effects, while others do not. Adverse effects of these drugs and dietary supplements are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
A variety of drugs and dietary supplements have proven performance-enhancing effects in athletes. However, many of these substances have adverse effects and are banned by various sports-governing organizations. Pharmacists can play a key role in participating in doping control programs, and can prevent athletes from inadvertently consuming a banned substance.
Ambrose
Peter J
PJ
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, USA. pambrose@memorialcare.org
D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D004994:Ethics, Pharmacy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role; D012651:Self Medication / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D014481:United States