Understanding the health threats to athletes from doping

The story so far The National Dope Testing Laboratory got approval from the World Anti-Doping Agency to manage the Athlete Biological Passport on December 6, 2024. Doping, as described by the National Anti-Doping Agency Rules 2021, consists of violations such as the use of prohibited substances and the presence of the substance or their metabolites in the body sample, evasion or refusal of testing of banned substances, whereabouts failures during testing, possession or trafficking of prohibited substances without proper justification, administering these substances to others, complicity in violations, association with ineligible individuals, and acts or retaliating against whistleblowers. However, their use carries serious health risks, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, liver damage, hormonal imbalances leading to infertility, psychiatric disorders like aggression and depression, and weakened tendons that are prone to injury. The health risks include thickened blood, leading to blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks, insulin resistance, acromegaly, and an increased risk of cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. Doping in sports compromises fairness and poses significant health risks to athletes, ranging from dehydration and tremors to long-term consequences such as cardiovascular disease, organ damage, and psychological disorders.