ABSTRACT
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is committed to provide a testing program that achieves both deterrence and detection; it was designed with athlete concerns in mind. USADA’s research program contributes significantly to the worldwide anti-doping effort. In addition, USADA offers a broad-based education program that provides a forum for clean sport at all levels, emphasizing the ideals of the Olympic movement.1 None of this would be possible without the vision and integrity of dedicated scientists around the world, without which we would not have the protection for our clean athletes to engage in fair competition. Through our enthusiasm, innovation, ingenuity, transparency, and communication, USADA exemplifies the quality of anti-doping agencies worldwide.2,3
Doping is defined as the administration of, or use by competing athletes of, any substances foreign to the body or of any physiological substance taken in abnormal quantity or taken by an abnormal route of entry into the body with the sole intention of increasing in an artificial and unfair manner his or her performance in competition. Performance enhancement includes recovery, improved focus, concentration, and alteration of the perception of fatigue. We know that doping is unfair and unethical and should be banned from competitions. Doping and performance enhancement is not limited to elite sports but appears to command our everyday life at all ages.4-7
Athletes of all ages have discovered many approaches to improve performance, focus and recovery. Many of the products used for doping or enhancement were new and novel in the twentieth century. Some, like androstenedione, were until recently dietary supplements, finally removed from the market by the combined efforts of USADA and the Coalition for Anabolic Steroid Precursor and Ephedra Regulation (CASPER) group supporting the Sweeney-Osborne Bill.8,9
In previous chapters, science’s best have shared their expertise to protect our athletes. Above all, the health of our athletes comes first, and this discussion is also included. The most important event is the testing ability demonstrated by our elite laboratories around the world. Of course, none of this would be possible without the validation and accreditation of laboratories approved by the highest standards.2,3 Several chapters have pointed out
these standards.3,10,11 The importance of a process to identify new analyses is part of this excellence.11-13
Androgens came on the scene relatively recently with the first identification and development of new androgenic drug products in the 1930s.13-18 Athletes quickly became aware of their anabolic promise, partly through such publications as the Underground Steroid Handbook.19 The mass production and use of these AAS have grown, including use of dietary supplements such as androstenedione, a potent androgen, familiar to both baseball players and the German Democratic Republic government.14,20-22 Prior to a 1962 review of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, many ineffective and even unstudied combination products were available.23
