Drug taking in amateur sport reaching crisis point

Drug taking in amateur sport is on the way to reaching crisis point, according to the national body for clean sport, UK Anti-Doping.

The claim followed a BBC poll on doping incidences in amateur sport. The poll revealed that 35% of people playing at amateur level claim to know someone who has been doped. Of the respondents, 8% said that they had taken steroids. Half of the 1,000+ respondents believe the use of performance-enhancing substances is common among those playing sports at a competitive level.

Nicole Sapstead, the chief of UK Anti-Doping (Ukad), said she doubts whether sport of any level can claim not to have a doping problem. She said, “Certainly the figures as regards the prevalence of performance-enhancing substances at an amateur level are incredibly alarming. That said, it does confirm what UK Anti-Doping has long suspected and also seen through some of our intelligence-led testing.” Sapstead believes doping in sports should be acknowledged as a reality and that people should not assume someone else will deal with the problem.

The Ukad figures show there are 52 coaches and athletes serving a ban because of doping. Of these 52, 12% were playing as professionals and 21% were semi-professional; 62% were playing as amateurs and 5% were coaches. Since Ukad’s start in 2009, it has levied 186 sanctions across 22 different sports. Of these, 46% were made on rugby players, both union and league, and primarily on those playing at semi-professional and amateur levels.