Drugs in Sport

Guest Editor: Ian McGrath and David Cowan
Publication Date: April 2008

The definition of a drug as 'therapeutic' is dependent on context. In simplest terms, therapeutic drugs are those used legally. Recreational illegal use of drugs is a long recognised human foible. More recently, it has been recognised that drugs are also used illegally to enhance performance in sport. The present Drugs in Sport themed issue, guest edited by Ian McGrath and David Cowan, is intended to highlight the pharmacology behind the complex challenge of drugs intended for illegal performance-enhancing use.

There are numerous ways that sporting achievement could be enhanced by drugs on a temporary basis, but long-term detriment to health is often encountered, sometimes years later. The efficacy of a drug required by an athlete to improve performance is often minor and usually unproven. Indeed, such minor improvements are particularly difficult to prove.

Furthermore, unlike drugs used medically, these uses in sport have not been subjected to the scientific scrutiny demanded by government regulations. It is therefore of importance to consider the mechanism of action of drugs used illegally in sport, in order to understand the motivation behind their use, and also the basis for their long-term adverse effects.

Detecting the use of performance-enhancing agents is a separate topic that is also covered in this focused issue. Here, we bring together for the first time all the relevant strands of the pharmacology of Drugs in Sport, written by leading international experts in each area.

A selection of Review Articles that will be featured in the themed issue are listed below. Sign up for BJP's e-alerts to be informed when the issue goes live.