3:10 PM - 3:35 PM
[15政-口-04] Consumption of Food and Beverages Provided by Others and Sharing of Medications among University Athletic Athletes: A Perspective on Anti-Doping
アンチ・ドーピングの観点における一考察
Background
As per anti-doping rules, athletes are responsible for everything they ingest. Rule violations have occurred due to the presence of prohibited substances in food and beverages. However, athletes may consume food and drinks provided by others (including homemade items) without suspicion, or share medications (painkillers, eye drops, compresses, etc.) with others. The reality of these cases has not been fully clarified for athletics athletes.
Objective
This study aimed to clarify the intake of food and beverages provided by others and the sharing of medications with others among university athletics athletes, according to their competition level.
Methods
Participants included 116 below national level and 44 above national level university athletes (Mage =19.3 ± 1.09 years old). They were asked to answer two questions in an online survey on a scale of “1= not at all true” to “6= very true”: (1) I do not consume food or drinks given to me by others, and (2) I use medications shared with others. The scores between competition levels were then compared using Mann-Whitney U test.
Results
(1) There was no significant difference between the scores of below-national (2.5±1.3 points) and above-national level (2.5±1.2 points) athletes concerning the consumption of food and drinks provided by others. At both the levels, 77-78% of the responses were below 3 on the scale (rather not true). There was no significant difference between the scores of below-national (1.9±1.2 points) and above-national level (2.1±1.5 points) athletes for sharing medications with others; 14.7% of the respondents below the national level and 22.7% above the national level scored 4 (somewhat applicable) or higher.
Discussion and Conclusions
University athletics athletes did not differ between competition levels in their consumption of food and beverages and sharing of medications with others, and approximately 80% of those above the national level consumed food and beverages provided by others. These findings suggest the need to provide education to promote risk management behavior, especially among those above the national level who may be subject to doping control.
As per anti-doping rules, athletes are responsible for everything they ingest. Rule violations have occurred due to the presence of prohibited substances in food and beverages. However, athletes may consume food and drinks provided by others (including homemade items) without suspicion, or share medications (painkillers, eye drops, compresses, etc.) with others. The reality of these cases has not been fully clarified for athletics athletes.
Objective
This study aimed to clarify the intake of food and beverages provided by others and the sharing of medications with others among university athletics athletes, according to their competition level.
Methods
Participants included 116 below national level and 44 above national level university athletes (Mage =19.3 ± 1.09 years old). They were asked to answer two questions in an online survey on a scale of “1= not at all true” to “6= very true”: (1) I do not consume food or drinks given to me by others, and (2) I use medications shared with others. The scores between competition levels were then compared using Mann-Whitney U test.
Results
(1) There was no significant difference between the scores of below-national (2.5±1.3 points) and above-national level (2.5±1.2 points) athletes concerning the consumption of food and drinks provided by others. At both the levels, 77-78% of the responses were below 3 on the scale (rather not true). There was no significant difference between the scores of below-national (1.9±1.2 points) and above-national level (2.1±1.5 points) athletes for sharing medications with others; 14.7% of the respondents below the national level and 22.7% above the national level scored 4 (somewhat applicable) or higher.
Discussion and Conclusions
University athletics athletes did not differ between competition levels in their consumption of food and beverages and sharing of medications with others, and approximately 80% of those above the national level consumed food and beverages provided by others. These findings suggest the need to provide education to promote risk management behavior, especially among those above the national level who may be subject to doping control.