Topic: Doping in professional sports

Sports doping worldwide - statistics & facts

Published by

Feb 17, 2022

Doping refers to the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs by competitive athletes across a wide range of sporting events. The use of these drugs is generally considered to be unethical and is therefore prohibited by many international sports organizations such as the International Olympic Committee. Although performance-enhancing drugs are illegal, there are some athletes who nevertheless choose to dope and take explicit measures to evade detection. In 2019, for instance, the number of anti-doping rule violations worldwide totaled 1,914. During that same year, the share of anti-doping rule violations reported worldwide by outcome revealed that 57 percent of violations resulted in sanctions. Bodybuilding and athletics were the sports which recorded the most anti-doping rule violations worldwide in 2019. Overall, bodybuilding accounted for 22 percent of the violations in that year, while athletics accounted for 18 percent.

Doping in the Tour de France

The controversy surrounding Lance Armstrong is perhaps the most infamous example of doping in professional sports. In 2013, the former professional cyclist confessed to doping after being stripped of seven Tour de France titles. Since then, the famed bicycle race has had to contend with additional anti-doping violations. In 2021, the number of all-time anti-doping rule violations in selected cycling competitions worldwide revealed that nearly 200 Tour de France riders had been found guilty of doping throughout the tournament’s history. The overall rate of doping in the Tour de France, however, is trending downwards. From 1968 to 2021, the share of Tour de France riders who committed anti-doping rule violations reached its lowest point in 2021. Despite this, the level of trust in Tour de France teams complying with the anti-doping rules varied in 2021. That year, the Groupama-FDJ team was awarded the highest level of confidence in complying with anti-doping rules.

Doping in the Olympics

At the Olympic Games, drug tests are frequently carried out and monitored to determine if an athlete has used a performance-enhancing drug. From 1968 to 2020, the most common doping violations at the Olympics varied by substance. Turinabol, an oral anabolic steroid, was listed in 65 positive doping cases as of 2020. The psychoactive component in marijuana, otherwise known as THC, was also on the list of banned substances. In 2021, public opinion on whether THC should be a banned substance for professional and Olympic athletes in the United States was divided. According to the survey, 28 percent of respondents strongly agreed that THC should be a banned substance for professional and Olympic athletes, while 24 percent strongly disagreed. Regardless of the controversy surrounding which substances ought to be banned, Olympic athletes who are found to have violated anti-doping rules run the risk of losing their Olympic medals. As of 2020, the number of Olympic medals stripped in athletics varied by type. A total of 14 bronze medals, 23 silver medals, and 22 gold medals had been taken away from athletes due to anti-doping violations.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

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