Anti-doping

Anti-doping refers to the international system of rules, education, testing, and sanctions used by sport governing bodies to detect and deter the use of prohibited substances and methods. The system rests on three pillars: a published list of prohibited substances, a sample-collection and laboratory-analysis infrastructure, and a results-management and sanctions procedure.

Architecture

• World Anti-Doping Agency sets policy and publishes the WADA Code and Prohibited List.
• International federations (FIFA, World Athletics, FINA, etc.) adopt the Code and run their own testing programmes within their sport.
• National anti-doping organisations (USADA, UKAD, Sport Integrity Australia, etc.) conduct testing within their country, across sports.
• WADA-accredited laboratories perform analytical testing under common methodological standards.

Detection methods

Most prohibited substances are detected through chromatography–mass spectrometry of urine or blood samples. Peptide hormones present analytical challenges because endogenous and recombinant forms can be identical; detection often relies on isoform ratio analysis (for example, the GH biomarker test or the steroid module of the Athlete Biological Passport).

Out-of-competition testing

Many prohibited substances, including most peptide hormones and anabolic agents, are banned out of competition as well as in competition. Top-tier athletes are required to provide daily whereabouts information so that no-advance-notice testing can be performed.

Natural-bodybuilding parallels

Most natural-bodybuilding federations adopt a WADA-aligned banned list and add polygraph testing as a supplementary deterrent. Sanctions are typically more severe than in mainstream sport, including lifetime bans for any past use.