Intake of controlled substances by surfers

Anabolic steroids are taken by surfers too. Sport governing body announces that controlled preparations are a great problem in this sport. That’s why the Association of Surfing Professionals made a decision to implicate testing for anabolic steroids and other prohibited drugs which are used for increase of performance.
The Association of Surfing Professionals had some discussions with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They asked how they could introduce testing for banned products into surfing. Since anti-doping program of the WADA is claimed to be the best policy, the surfing organization intends to apply this protocol. Undoubtedly, this is the next victory of the WADA which contributes in the opportunity to manage anti-doping programs in sports.
It is known that surfing is a competitive sport. So, strength, speed and endurance are main abilities that promote winning. So, surfers could think that administration of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs promotes success greatly. It is also necessary to take in consideration that amount of money that is received by winners is large. Winners obtain no less than 100, 000 dollars. Desire to get money could lead surfers to decision to administrate anabolic steroids.
Nonetheless, it is said that usage of anabolic steroids and other medications that increase performance is not widespread in surfing. A lot of individuals believe that administration of recreational drugs is more widespread among surfers than intake of steroids. Sport of 1970s and 1980s was oftan associated with marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Current facts justify this impression. The number of surfers who are caught administrating marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine is quite enhanced.
Andi Irons, a professional surfer, died in November 2010. A heart attack that he had was caused by drug abuse. It was determined that steroids hadn’t been involved in this fatal case. Traces of methamphetamine, cocaine and methadone metabolites were found in his system.
Another surfer, Peter Davi, died in December 2007. Enhanced levels of meth were also found in his system.
As for the professional surfer Anthony Ruffo, he was caught distributing meth.
Only the professional surfer from Brazil Neco Padaratz was caught taking steroids. He was sentenced to one-year ban. This person tested positive for prohibited drugs in 2004. This surfer said that he had administrated these products to get a complete recovery from back injuries. In spite of his defense, he was sentenced to a ban. He was the first individual who was caught taking steroids by the Association of Surfing Professionals. According to numerous sources, he remains to be the only surfer who has ever been caught by the ASP.
The ASP has already the initial budget for introduction of the WADA steroid program into surfing.
While it is unlikely that steroids represent a problem in surfing, the new drug-testing program may create a wrong public impression.