Drugs and the Athlete

Book excerpt: Drug abuse in sports has become so widespread that it threatens the safety, health, and longevity of athletes, while perverting the idea of sport as the play of the spirit. This text begins by exploring the societal and athlete-specific foundations of drug abuse. The second part details and describes the drugs most commonly used by athletes. Part III addresses the issue of recognizing and managing drug abuse in the athlete. A final chapter analyzes the legal aspects of the subject. Appendices include the policy of the American College of Sports Medicine, and the drug testing policies of major national and international sports organizations. For physicians and professionals working with competitive or recreational athletes. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR