Retrospective Investigation of Illicit Drug Use in Amateur Athletes

Background: The rate of intake of illicit drugs by athletes is not limited to the elite athletes, and subjects not practising elite sport use several doping substances. We evaluated the rate of intake of illicit drugs in competitive, but not elite, and recreational Italian athletes.

Materials: In the period of 3 years, a total of anonymised 2787 urinary samples from competitive, but not elite, and recreational Italian athletes was screened for cannabis, cocaine, opioids and amphetamines.

Results: A total of 7.5% urine samples were positive for illicit substances. The metabolites of cannabis were discovered in 148 samples, and cocaine metabolites in 28. Amphetamines were present in 6 samples, and ephedrine in 1. The metabolites of nandrolone were identified in 3 samples. In a further 24 samples, the ratio of testosterone/epitestosterone level was inversed, but no illicit substance or metabolites were identified.

Conclusions: In non-elite athletes, the prevalence of illicit drugs use is comparable to that described in elite athletes.