Citation

Orchard JW, Fricker PA, White SL, Burke LM, Healey DJ. Med. J. Aust. 2006; 184(3): 132-136.

Affiliation

Sports Medicine at Sydney University, University of Sydney, Corner Western Avenue and Physics Road, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. johnorchard@msn.com.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Australian Medical Association, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16460300

Abstract

Doctors need to know if a patient is an athlete subject to drug testing, and to be aware of the legal situation surrounding drugs they prescribe such patients. Antidoping laws generally exist in order to provide a safe and fair environment for participation in sport. These laws should prevent and protect athletes from subjecting themselves to health risks through the use of unsafe, but performance-enhancing drugs. Because of difficulties in proving intent to cheat, the World Anti-Doping Agency enforces a principle of strict liability for positive test results for banned substances. An area of major controversy with respect to liability is the "sports supplement" industry, which is poorly regulated when compared with prescription drugs yet is a potential source of doping violations. Medical practitioners can be found guilty of anti-doping violations if they traffic banned drugs, prescribe these to athletes or otherwise assist athletes in taking banned substances. Medical practitioners are also now required to complete paperwork (therapeutic use exemption forms) to enable athletes to take banned substances which are required on medical grounds for specific illnesses.