Genetic variations in UDP-glucuronosyl transferase 2B17: implications for testosterone excretion profiling and doping control programs.

The use of drugs and ergogenic substances to augment athletic performance, commonly referred to as doping, has evolved along with sporting events. Ancient Olympic athletes consumed mushrooms, plants, and herbs in an attempt to gain a competitive edge. The modern Olympic Games made their debut in 1896, and mixtures of cocaine, ephedrine, and strychnine were used to enhance performance. Anabolic androgenic steroids (substances similar to the hormone testosterone) were used after World War II by Soviet athletes to increase muscle mass and power in weightlifting and bodybuilding events. Anabolic androgenic steroids rapidly spread to athletes in other sporting events and are still a problem in today’s sports world. To deal with the problem of doping in sports, the International Olympic Committee established a Medical Commission. The first list of prohibited substances was created in 1967; drug testing was implemented at Olympic Games the following year. In 1999, an independent international organization, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), was created to combat doping in sports and provide unified standards for doping control.