Athletes of all types continuously strive for competitive advantages. Today's society encourages winning above sportsmanship and fair play. Unfortunately, the desire to “win at all costs” has fostered an unprecedented demand for ergogenic drugs. A recent poll<sup>11 Bamberger M, Yaeger D. Over the edge. Sports Illustrated April 14: 62–70, 1997.

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> of 198 current or aspiring US Olympians proposed two scenarios:

This poll, although limited by sample size and the type of athlete surveyed, is quite illustrative. The epidemic use of performance-enhancing drugs reflects the coercion pressure felt by many athletes at many levels. Athletes are, by their very nature, competitive. As opponents begin to use drugs to improve their performance, so will previously “clean” athletes. A culture of underground chemists, suppliers, detection-avoidance advisors, and “better than ever” but less detectable substances has thus gained acceptance among athletes. Like it or not, this trend is not likely to change. The use of ergogenic substances is now common among age groups and sports that were previously untainted. This article reviews four current anabolic agents: dehydroepiandrosterone, anabolic-androgenic steroids, human growth hormone, and insulinlike growth factor. A summary of basic chemistry and physiology, effects and function, performance effects, clinical and athletic uses, side effects, cost, and availability is presented.