Doping in association football

Part of a series on
Doping in sport
Substances and types Anabolic steroids Blood doping Gene doping Stem cell doping Mechanical doping Technology doping Cannabinoids Diuretics Painkillers Sedatives Stem cell doping Stimulants Beta2-adrenergic agonist Clenbuterol Ephedrine EPO Human growth hormone Methylhexanamine SARMs Stanozolol Tetrahydrogestrinone
Terminology Abortion doping Biological passport Blood-spinning Doping test Performance-enhancing drugs Repoxygen Stem cell doping Whizzinator
History Olympics Tour de France (1998, 1999, 2007) Auto racing BALCO scandal Clemson University steroid scandal U of South Carolina steroid scandal Dubin Inquiry Association Football China East Germany Russia United States Festina affair Floyd Landis case Game of Shadows Juiced L.A. Confidentiel Lance Armstrong History of allegations Doping case Operación Puerto Operation Aderlass Doping in American football Steroid use in baseball Barry Bonds perjury case Mitchell Report Biogenesis scandal
Doping-related lists Doping cases in Sport Athletics Cycling Doping at the Olympic Games Doping at the World Championships in Athletics Stripped Olympic medals Stripped European Athletics C'ships medals Drugs banned from the Olympics MLB players suspended for doping MLB players in the Mitchell Report
Anti-doping bodies World Anti-Doping Agency International Testing Agency List of national anti-doping organizations Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority French Anti-Doping Agency National Anti-Doping Agency Russian Anti-Doping Agency UK Anti-Doping United States Anti-Doping Agency
v t e

The use of performance-enhancing drugs in association football occurred over many decades since the 1940s at least. The high amount of money and media attention in this sport causes a lot of pressure, especially for the managers, which is the reason why there are also cases of unusual drug use like cocaine. A famous example is the case of Diego Maradona and his ban from 1990-91 Serie A by using cocaine during a match. Maradona was banned again three years later for using ephedrine during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Incidence of the use of performance-enhancing drugs ("doping") in football seems to be lower than in other sports. However, this could also be explained by the low amount of unannounced drug testing. There were also no further investigations or consequences in the Operación Puerto doping case or other revelations. So, much closer collaboration, improved testing and further investigation seems needed with regard to banned substances, detection methods, and data collection worldwide.^[1]