Australian athletes' knowledge of the WADA Prohibited Substances List and performance enhancing substances

Rhonda Orr; Matthew Grassmayr; Rona Macniven; Anne Grunseit; Mark Halaki; Adrian Bauman

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.025

Australian athletes' knowledge of the WADA Prohibited Substances List and performance enhancing substances

Int J Drug Policy. 2018 Jun:56:40-45. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.025. Epub 2018 Mar 15.

Authors

Rhonda Orr¹, Matthew Grassmayr², Rona Macniven³, Anne Grunseit⁴, Mark Halaki⁵, Adrian Bauman⁶

Affiliations

¹ Discipline of Exercise Sport Science, Faculty of Health, Sciences The University of Sydney, P.O. Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia. Electronic address: rhonda.orr@sydney.edu.au.
² Discipline of Exercise Sport Science, Faculty of Health, Sciences The University of Sydney, P.O. Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia. Electronic address: M.Grassmayr@darwin.nt.gov.au.
³ Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006. Electronic address: rona.macniven@sydney.edu.au.
⁴ Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006. Electronic address: anne.grunseit@sydney.edu.au.
⁵ Discipline of Exercise Sport Science, Faculty of Health, Sciences The University of Sydney, P.O. Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW, 1825, Australia. Electronic address: mark.halaki@sydney.edu.au.
⁶ Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006. Electronic address: adrian.bauman@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 29550541
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.02.025

Abstract

Background: This study investigated athlete knowledge of the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited Substances List and the effects of four well-known performance enhancing substances (PES).

Methods: A sample of 1925 elite and sub-elite athletes (mean age 20.6 years) completed a questionnaire about the banned status of 30 substances/methods and their knowledge of the effects of amphetamines, anabolic steroids, growth hormone and erythropoietin.

Results: Athletes showed limited understanding of the WADA Prohibited Substances List, scoring 32.2% correct, 36.3% incorrect, and 31.4% indicated they did not know the status of 30 substances. Responses of >50% correct were given for only eight substances/method: anabolic steroids, amphetamines, blood doping, erythropoietin, caffeine, vitamins/minerals, protein powders and iron. Athletes demonstrated moderate knowledge of the desired effects of the four PES (49% correct), but poor knowledge of their adverse effects (29% correct). Age, sex, ethnicity, professional/amateur status, and current competition level were significant predictors of the number of correct responses (r² = 0.16, p < 0.05). Athletes most likely to provide correct responses were male, 19-22 year-olds, Caucasian, professional and international representatives.

Conclusion: This comprehensive study of anti-doping demonstrated that Australian athletes had limited knowledge of a wide range of substances and PES. Better targeted drug education towards younger and non-professional athletes and evaluation of current anti-doping programs are warranted.

Keywords: Banned substances; Doping; Elite sports; Questionnaire; Recreational drugs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Athletes / legislation & jurisprudence
Athletes / psychology*
Australia
Doping in Sports / legislation & jurisprudence*
Doping in Sports / prevention & control
Doping in Sports / psychology*
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Male
Performance-Enhancing Substances / administration & dosage*
Sports / legislation & jurisprudence*
Sports / psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult

Substances

Performance-Enhancing Substances