Abstract
The incidence of the abuse of illicit drugs in sport may be a useful indicator of
the extent of the phenomenon among the youth population. Many drugs of
abuse are included in the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Prohibited List,
and are therefore routinely tested for in antidoping controls.
This study presents the data obtained in tests carried out in the period 2003-
2007 at the Antidoping Laboratory of Rome, on 44781 samples analysed.
The methods used are those developed by the Laboratory for routine
antidoping analyses.
The percentage of positive test results ranges from 1.1 to 2%, with a high
incidence of stimulants and drugs of abuse. The substance most frequently
found is THC metabolite, which accounts for 0.2-0.4% of the total, followed
by cocaine metabolites, accounting for 0.1%. Other stimulants found
are ephedrines, carphedon, modafinil, and anorexic compounds such as
phendimetrazine and norfenfluramine. No amphetamines or amphetaminelike
designer drugs have been detected.
These data may be indicative of the widespread incidence of cocaine and
cannabis abuse among the young Italian population, bearing in mind that
the phenomenon is underestimated in this study, due to the fact that drugs
of abuse are investigated only in samples involved in competitive sport, and
especially to the fact that people doing such activities take more care of their
health and are subject to greater control in their behaviour and habits with
respect to the “normal” population.
Titolo tradotto del contributo | [Autom. eng. transl.] Use of stimulants and drugs of abuse in sport: the Italian experience |
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Lingua originale | Spanish |
pagine (da-a) | 239-242 |
Numero di pagine | 4 |
Rivista | ADICIONES |
Volume | 2009 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2009 |
Keywords
- análisis de orina, drogas de abuso, controles antidoping,
- urine analysis, drugs of abuse, antidoping controls, epidemiology