Sport-Induced Substance Use-An Empirical Study to the Extent within a German Sports Association

PLoS One. 2016 Oct 26;11(10):e0165103. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165103. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

In cooperation with the Sports Association of the Palatinate (SBP), a survey was conducted on substance use by recreational and amateur athletes. Distribution of the online questionnaire took place by means of chain-referral sampling, and questions on substance use were presented using the randomized response technique (RRT) to protect the anonymity of respondents and prevent socially desirable answers. The estimated lowest limit for the population share for use of prohibited substances during the last season (4%) and for lifetime use (3.6%) did not differ significantly. Approximately 21% of respondents had used substances for training or competitions that were taken for a purpose other than performance enhancement (e.g., to improve their mood or to help with recuperation from a minor injury or illness) in the last year. 49% had done so at some point in their life.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes
  • Doping in Sports / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Recreation
  • Self Medication
  • Societies*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.