Drug abuse among athletes: a review article

Background The issue of drug abuse in sports is a persistent threat to clean sport development despite best efforts to promote clean competition. Performance-enhancing drugs, recreational drugs, and the misuse of pharmaceuticals remain common among sportspeople.Methods In regards to a literature search done via the PRISMA protocol with databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and SPORTDiscus, the type, effect, and factors involving doping use in drugs were to be explored.Results The narrative review provided a summary on the thematic findings from common drugs abused by athletes like Anabolic Steroids and Erythropoietin, as well as non-psychoactive drugs. It addressed the performance pressure, injury pain, and mental stress that prompts athletes to drug use, alongside drug use influences on athletes and sport integrity. It further addressed the detection, control, and efforts made by the World Anti-Doping Agency to fight drugs, despite the challenges that come with the same.Conclusion The report emphasizes the “need for holistic approaches to prevention and management strategies: education, psychological interventions, and professional policies,” emphasizing the upkeep of sport ethics. The issue of drug abuse among athletes requires a “professional approach to health, performance, and global sport integrity.”