Legal Issues in Testing for Performance-Enhancing Drugs

Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) include any chemical preparation or naturally occurring substance taken unlawfully by athletes, sports players, military personnel, or employees of the public or private sector in order to heighten their mental or physical performance. PEDs include numerous substances whose effects are varied, many benefiting only certain athletes playing certain sports. Most commonly, PEDs are employed to amplify the growth of muscle and lean body mass; to reduce the time necessary to recover from fatigue or injury; to enhance alertness and career performance; to mask pain, weariness, or discomfort; and to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

The most common methods of testing involve the taking of blood or urine samples. Often the sample is divided in two and each portion is preserved in ...