Anti-doping control in Brazil: results from the year of 2003 and prevention activities

This study presents the statistics of doping control, inand outof-competition in Brazil during the year 2003 and also shows the preventive actions developed. We have asked four laboratories and their coordinators to inform us about the controls on Brazilian athletes performed during the year 2003. All controls were performed under the World Anti-doping Agency’s (WADA) rules and regulations. Our results show that 3,797 controls were performed in this year, being 3,266 in-competition and 531 out-of-competition controls. Most of the in-competition (92.16%) and out-of-competition tests (92.47%) were performed by LAB DOP, the doping control laboratory of the Chemical Institute of the Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), one of the South American accredited laboratories. Professional soccer was the sport where most of the in-competition controls were performed (2.975 = 91.1%), with eight positive findings and a very low percent of positives (0.27%) when compared to the international literature. Most of the out-of-competition tests were performed by the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), during the preparation of our athletes for participating in the XIV Pan-American Games, at the Dominican Republic (92.47%). The positive result found was 19 positive in in-competition test and six in out-of-competition test. Two equestrian athletes refused to be tested. The percentage of positive in-competition (0.58%) is lower than the international percentages described, that ranges from 1 to 2%, with the exceptions of arm-fighting (30%), Paralympics table-tennis (10%), track and field (6.15%) and cycling (4.69%). The out-of-competition tests were found to have a greater incidence of positive results in bodybuilding (33.33%), equestrian (22.22%) and boxing (7.69%). The results of swimming (2.56%), track and field (1.89%) were in agreement with international data. The preventive actions of COB, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation and LAB DOP were shown in this article, altogether with the new anti-doping law from the Brazilian Sports Ministry.