Annual Report 2018 / Slovenian Anti-Doping Organisation (SLOADO) - Ljubljani : Slovenska Antidoping Organizacija, 2019

Annual Report 2019 / Slovenian Anti-Doping Organisation (SLOADO) - Ljubljani : Slovenska Antidoping Organizacija, 2020

Annual Report 2020 / Slovenian Anti-Doping Organisation (SLOADO) - Ljubljani : Slovenska Antidoping Organizacija, 2021

Annual Report 2021 / Slovenian Anti-Doping Organisation (SLOADO) - Ljubljani : Slovenska Antidoping Organizacija, 2022

Annual Report 2022 / Slovenian Anti-Doping Organisation (SLOADO) - Ljubljani : Slovenska Antidoping Organizacija, 2023

Smart Drugs and Synthetic Androgens for Cognitive and Physical Enhancement : Revolving Doors of Cosmetic Neurology / Paola Frati, Chrystalla Kyriakou, Alessandro Del Rio, Enrico Marinelli, Gianluca Montanari Vergallo, Simona Zaami, Francesco P. Busardò. - (Current Neuropharmacology 13 (2015) 1 (January); p. 5-11).

• DOI: 10.2174/1570159X13666141210221750.
• PMCID: PMC4462043.
• PMID: 26074739

Abstract:

Cognitive enhancement can be defined as the use of drugs and/or other means with the aim to improve the cognitive functions of healthy subjects in particular memory, attention, creativity and intelligence in the absence of any medical indication. Currently, it represents one of the most debated topics in the neuroscience community. Human beings always wanted to use substances to improve their cognitive functions, from the use of hallucinogens in ancient civilizations in an attempt to allow them to better communicate with their gods, to the widespread use of caffeine under various forms (energy drinks, tablets, etc.), to the more recent development of drugs such as stimulants and glutamate activators.
In the last ten years, increasing attention has been given to the use of cognitive enhancers, but up to now there is still only a limited amount of information concerning the use, effect and functioning of cognitive enhancement in daily life on healthy subjects. The first aim of this paper was to review current trends in the misuse of smart drugs (also known as Nootropics) presently available on the market focusing in detail on methylphenidate, trying to evaluate the potential risk in healthy individuals, especially teenagers and young adults. Moreover, the authors have explored the issue of cognitive enhancement compared to the use of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) in sports. Finally, a brief overview of the ethical considerations surrounding human enhancement has been examined.

Social Media, Body Image and Resistance Training : Creating the Perfect 'Me' with Dietary Supplements, Anabolic Steroids and SARM's / Luuk Hilkens, Maarten Cruyff, Liesbeth Woertman, Jeroen Benjamins, Catharine Evers. - (Sports Medicine - Open 7 (2021) 1 (10 November); 81)

• PMID: 34757466
• PMCID: PMC8579410
• DOI: 10.1186/s40798-021-00371-1

Abstract

Background: Few studies have assessed the use of dietary supplements, anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARM) in male gym users. The comparison of physical appearance with others on social media and the exposure to fitness-related content on social media (i.e., image-centric social media use) may have a profound role in using these compounds due to its role in creating negative body images in male gym users.

Objective: Provide contemporary data on the use of dietary supplements, AAS and SARM among young male gym users, and test the hypothesis that social media is associated with the use of dietary supplements, AAS and SARM, as a result of a negative body image.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conducted in the Netherlands, male gym users (N = 2269; 24 ± 6 years) completed an online questionnaire including self-reported measures regarding resistance training participation, image-centric social media use, dietary supplement intake, and body image. The prevalence of AAS and SARM use was assessed with randomized response, a technique to ask sensitive questions indirectly.

Results: Of all participants, 83% used ergogenic dietary supplements (mainly protein and creatine), and an estimated 9 versus 2.7% had ever used AAS versus SARM. Image-centric social media use was positively associated with the use of dietary supplements (r = .26; p < 0.01) and AAS (p < 0.05), but not SARM. Image-centric social media use was associated with a more dissatisfied body image (r = .34; p < 0.01). Body image did not mediate the relationship between image-centric social media use and the use of doping compounds.

Conclusions: The use of dietary supplements in young male gym users is exorbitant, with the use of AAS and SARM being substantial. Image-centric social media use is positively associated with the use of dietary supplements and AAS.

Social psychological determinants of the use of performance-enhancing drugs by gym users / C. H. Wiefferink, S. B. Detmar, B. Coumans, T. Vogels and T. G.W. Paulussen. - (Health Education Research 23 (2008) 1 (13 February) p. 70-80)

• PMID: 17301058
• DOI: 10.1093/her/cym004

The aim of this study is to identify the social psychological determinants of the use of performance-enhancing drugs by gym users who practice bodybuilding, fitness, powerlifting or combat sports. In this questionnaire-based study, 144 respondents answered questions on their actual use and intention to use such drugs and also on their background characteristics and beliefs, such as their attitudes, social influences and self-efficacy. While all social psychological determinants correlated with intention to use these drugs, the most important predictors were personal norms, beliefs about performance outcomes and the perceived behavior of others. Non-users held more restrictive norms about using performance-enhancing drugs, were less optimistic about the performanceenhancing outcomes and believed that fewer significant others used performance-enhancing drugs than users and ex-users. The results of this study indicate that users attribute advantages to performance-enhancing drugs and are inclined to overlook the risks of using them. Preventive interventions should focus on influencing personal norms and social processes.

Social Psychology within the anti-doping area Baseline statistics and profiles of athletes’ attitude and knowledge An empirical presentation / Göran Svedsäter, Ingemar Wedman

An important objective of the project was to recognize if there are any special attitudes and knowledge profiles between the target groups.

Even though the selection and thereby the database became somewhat smaller than planned, the analyses reveal some interesting tendencies and finds.

The questionnaire confirms that significant differences exist in relation to the age groups junior and senior. This concerns all areas such as attitudes, subjectively experienced knowledge and what is regarded as important in relation to the fight against doping in sport.

In addition, it will be seen that ”region“ is significantly different in relation to most of the areas in the questionnaire. The clearest is the difference within ”personal knowledge” , in particular that Asia/Australia/New Zealand consistently score higher than the other regions.

It also appears from the questionnaire that ”gender” has no significance for how the respondents experience the various statements. This applies to all areas. The majority expresses a clear standpoint/attitude against use of doping in sport. In addition, there is distancing from the use of doping for shorter periods, even if the medical side effects are small. The respondents also express that even though the risk of being discovered is small, they would not use prohibited substances. In addition, the majority of athletes were not willing to use prohibited substances to become a well-known top athlete. In this context it is interesting that the group junior has a less clear anti –doping attitude than the senior group. It also appears that the group juniors has a less restrictive attitude to using doping as a one-off, and as a quick way to becoming well-known top athletes.

Even though the results indicate that the athletes have a clear attitude against doping it is both a concern and a challenge that there is still 10 – 15 % of the respondents who are of another opinion.

One of two athletes experience that the incidence of doping in sport is an increasing problem and that drug abuse in society has an impact on doping in sport. At the same time, approximately half express that attitudes in relation to doping can be influenced. This emphasises the necessity that the phenomenon doping should be both analysed and understood in relation to a sociological and social context.

Within ”personal knowledge” the results show that the group junior is experienced as having less knowledge in relation to all areas than the group senior. Concerning knowledge about doping controls and regulations, this can probably be explained by the fact that seniors have more experience as athletes.

In relation to knowledge about substances, negative effects, nutrition/supplements and not least ethics and fair play, it is disquieting that juniors experience having less knowledge in relation to these areas than seniors. This is a challenge since it is anticipated that knowledge about these areas can have a preventive effect on attitudes and any use of prohibited substances.

Within the area ”Fight against doping in sport” the respondents have given almost identical answers to the questions, and not assigned priorities to the various measures, as was the intention. Probably the respondents answered "how important it (generally) is to do something", and not how or which measures should be emphasised. This part therefore functions less adequately than desired, and has limited the possibility of analyses.

In spite of this, it appears from the material that many (70%) of the respondents express that doping controls both in competition and out of competition are very important for the future fight against doping in sport. The senior group states ”out of competition controls” as the most important measure.

The conclusion is that there exist differences between the age groups in many of the areas which are included in the questionnaire. Efforts should therefore be concentrated on increasing course / education offers for athletes, particularly in relation to the group juniors.

The main aim of this project is to explore how social media platforms can be harnessed to promote anti-doping behaviour among young people and applied in various localities by anti-doping organisations worldwide.

More specific aims of the research contributing to the development of this guidance were to explore:
- How social media can be used to influence attitudes and behaviours of people toward social issues comparable to doping:

• The pros and cons of social marketing as compared to other approaches;
• When social marketing should be used and when alternatives should be considered;
• Specific methods of communicating online which are particularly successful in aiding behavioural/attitudinal change;
• Guiding principles which underpin successful or innovative social media campaigns.