The Association of Surfing Professionals introduces a new anti-doping program into this sport

Anabolic steroids are taken by surfers too. Sport governing body announces that banned products are a significant problem in this sport. That’s why the Association of Surfing Professionals decided to implicate testing for anabolic steroids and other forbidden medications which are used for enhancement of performance.
The Association of Surfing Professionals led certain discussions with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They asked how they could implicate testing for prohibited preparations into surfing. Since anti-doping program of the WADA is claimed to be the best policy, the surfing organization intends to introduce this protocol. Of course, this is the next victory of the WADA that promotes the opportunity to manage drug-testing programs in sports.
Everybody knows that surfing is a competitive sport. So, strength, speed and endurance are main abilities that induce winning. So, surfers could think that usage of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs induces success greatly. It is also necessary to take in consideration that amount of money which is obtained by winners is large. Winners receive no less than 100, 000 dollars. Desire to receive money could lead surfers to decision to take anabolic steroids.
Nevertheless, it is said that administration of anabolic steroids and other medicines which cause performance-enhancing effects is not widespread in surfing. Many individuals think that intake of recreational drugs is more widespread among surfers than usage 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 taking marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine is quite enhanced.
Andi Irons, a professional surfer, died in November 2010. The reason of his death was a heart attack caused by drug abuse. It was defined that steroids hadn’t been implicated in this case. Traces of methamphetamine, cocaine and methadone metabolites were found in his body.
Another surfer, Peter Davi, died in December 2007. Increased 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 administrating steroids. He received a one-year ban. This person tested positive for forbidden medicines in 2004. This person confirmed that he had administrated these products to receive a complete recovery from back injuries. In spite of his defense, he was sentenced to a ban. He was the first person who was caught administrating steroids by the Association of Surfing Professionals. According to many sources, he remains to be the only surfer that has ever been caught by the ASP.
The ASP has already the initial budget to introduce 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.