title: Why glucocorticosteroids should remain in the list of prohibited substances: a sports medicine viewpoint.
abstract: In addition to their therapeutic applications, glucocorticosteroids  have been widely used and abused in the belief that these substances may enhance athletic performance. Analysis of athlete urine samples by antidoping laboratories around the world support this conclusion. It is commonly accepted in medical practice to use local glucocorticosteroid injections in the treatment of non-infectious local musculotendinous inflammatory conditions conveying symptom relief and often a speedier return to sporting activity. This practice is not to be considered illicit, but sports physicians must accept that such an intervention is not in itself an immediate cure and that an athlete will still require a period of recuperation  before continuing sporting activity.  How long such a period of recuperation  should last is a matter of conjecture and there is little concrete data to support what is, or what is not, an acceptable period of inactivity. In the interest of athlete safety, we would propose to maintain systemic glucocorticosteroids on the World Anti-Doping Agency&apos;s (WADA) list of prohibited substances, both in and out-of-competition as well as a mandatory period of 48 hours of rest from play after receiving a local glucocorticosteroid injection.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pigozzi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Gianfrancesco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zorzoli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bachl
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mc Donagh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cummiskey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Luigi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pitsiladis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borrione
mesh_terms: D004300:Doping in Sports; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D013178:Sports Medicine
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids