Are sports stars caught using illegal drugs being unfairly smeared?

With the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games now behind us and Australia’s major sporting bodies nearing the conclusion of their 2024 seasons, many athletes will be celebrating their hard-earned victories and mourning their losses.

While this is a joyous occasion for most, there is a high chance that some will get involved in a drug scandal.

Many readers will remember the damning headlines during the Paris Olympics when Australian hockey player Tom Craig was arrested (and released without charge) for allegedly purchasing cocaine.

As the former Olympic silver medallist was deluged by the media, Craig apologized. He was subsequently sent home without Olympic privileges and later suspended from the national team for 12 months.

Less than a week later, National Rugby League (NRL) star Latrell Mitchell also found himself in hot water when a photo of him with white powder leaked online.

Mitchell claimed he made “bad decisions” and has now been fined $40,000 and suspended for one game for bringing the sport into disrepute.

Drugs in sports

When we talk about athletes and drugs, we usually think of steroids.

According to Sports Integrity Australia and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), these performance-enhancing drugs are banned for athletes.

To be placed on the banned list, a substance must meet two of the following three conditions: 1) it may enhance performance, 2) it may endanger the athlete’s health, and 3) it is contrary to the spirit of the sport.

It is not surprising that substances that give athletes an edge over the competition are banned.

Interestingly, illegal drugs such as cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy) are also on WADA’s banned list, despite there being no convincing evidence that they can enhance athletic performance.

Read more: Why Cocaine Is Considered a Performance Enhancer for Athletes, and Why It Matters When the Athlete Has Taken It

Risk takers and thrill seekers

Australia is a sport loving country, many of us celebrate the risk taking and aggression of our athletes.

So why are we surprised that this kind of behavior, such as risk-taking and aggression, can sometimes lead to drug use?

After decades of research, it is now becoming increasingly clear that risk-taking, aggression and sensation seeking – personality traits that contribute to developing a great athlete – are also linked to increased drug and alcohol use.

This association is even stronger among men under 25 years of age.

There are all kinds of reasons why people, including athletes, use doping.

Not only are drugs often used to cope with the emotional pressures that can be extreme in professional sports, but also to manage the pain associated with physical injuries.

Often referred to as the “self-medication hypothesis,” some people use drugs and alcohol to manage their mental health. But it has been shown that it often makes mental health conditions worse.

This also appears to apply to physical health management.

For example, chronic pain is the top reason people in Australia seek out medicinal cannabis.

Despite this, there is limited evidence that cannabis and other illicit drugs are effective in reducing pain in the long term.

In general, our sports stars are vulnerable to drug use, whether it is due to their personality, emotional pressures or physical health.

Social influences

The World Anti-Doping Code specifically defines ‘the spirit of sport’ as the ethical pursuit of human excellence through the dedicated perfection of each athlete’s natural talents.

This is a high bar, so it is no surprise that we as a community are seemingly outraged when an athlete is “caught” not meeting these high expectations.

Perhaps we should better distinguish perfection in sport from perfection in character.

Many believe that these athletes are role models who should set a good example for young people.

It is true that social influence plays a major role in drug use among young people, but that does not mean that those we admire are guilty.

Instead, we need to have better conversations with young people about drug use.

The most important thing is that this conversation is based on facts, without personal criticism or judgment.

What can be done?

Stigmatizing drug use can cause mental health problems, making the situation even worse.

To ensure a relationship of trust, we must share facts with young people.

In 2021-2022, almost half of all Australians over the age of 14 reported having used illegal drugs. Most of them did not experience any health problems as a result of their use.

Although the safest way to avoid harm from drugs is to not use them, the message of “saying no to drugs” does not work. In some cases, this strategy can actually be harmful, especially for those who use drugs and do not receive support or treatment.

Everyone has the right to resources that can help them manage their drug use and well-being without being judged.

It is vital that we teach young people skills and strategies that not only help them avoid drugs, but also enable them to make evidence-based choices and minimise the potential for harm if they do decide to use drugs.

Why shouldn’t we support and empathize with our athletes in the same way?

For practical, evidence-based resources and further support, visit Positive Choices or the National Alcohol and Drug Use Helpline: 1800 250 015.