title: Enhancement drugs and the athlete.
abstract: This article considers the health risks associated with the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sport. After an overview on the evolution of doping substances and methods and on the current international organization of the antidoping tests, the potential risks correlated with abuse of PEDs are presented. Specific problems of drug associations, designer steroids, and nutritional supplements also are discussed. Data from randomized clinical trials may not be sufficient to identify the complete range of adverse effects possible with abuse of PEDs; more specific studies are necessary to assess their actual toxic potential.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Antidoping, Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, Largo Giulio Onesti 1, 00197 Rome RM, Italy. francesco.botre@uniroma1.it <francesco.botre@uniroma1.it>
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Botrè
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavan
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D009043:Motor Activity; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents