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The use of doping substances or doping methods to enhance performance is cheating, unfair and is contrary to the spirit of fair competition. Drug misuse can be harmful to an athlete's health or to other athletes competing in the sport. It severely damages the integrity, image and value of sport, whether or not the motivation to use drugs is to improve performance. Substances and methods are prohibited in sport for various reasons including:
Performance influencing effects - which contravene the ethics of sport and undermine the principles of fair participation Health of the athlete - some drug misuse may cause serious side effects, which can compromise an athlete's health. Using substances to mask pain/injury could make an injury worse or cause permanent damage. Some drug misuse may be harmful to other athletes participating in the sport. Illegality - it is forbidden by law to possess or supply some substances.
Most sporting federations have anti-doping regulations to ensure all athletes compete by the same principle of being drug-free. The regulations aim to achieve drug-free sport through clearly stated policies, testing and sanctions. They are also intended to raise the awareness of drug misuse and to deter athletes from misusing prohibited drugs and methods.
Athletes can be influential role models for young people. The behavior of elite athletes can have a significant impact on young people as they aspire to emulate their sporting heroes, especially their actions and attitudes.
The use of illegal drugs brings sport into disrepute and can ruin a sporting career. For this reason some sports have prohibited the use of social drugs such as marijuana. Other "social" drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines or heroin are prohibited by all sports. The action taken by governing bodies that test specifically for "social" drugs can include rehabilitation and treatment (once detected) to assist athletes to overcome their drug problems.
Sport is about competing and performing to the best of your ability without drugs. If athletes, coaches or medical advisers resort to using drugs to assist performance, they are also cheating themselves. If athletes, coaches or medical advisers are caught breaking the rules, it could affect their future careers in sport as well as bring shame on the sport, their family and friends.