Drug abuse in sports

14 October 2015. Doping in professional sports is frequently debated both in the media and in public. However, the problem is not only relevant in professional sports but also in popular sports. In fact, drug abuse also exists among recreational athletes, but this is discussed and researched to a distinctly lesser extent. Yet this abuse is at least as dangerous as doping in professional sports and, in addition, concerns markedly more people. Examples of problems in popular sports include alcohol abuse in sports associations and the consumption of anabolic steroids in fitness studios.

A better understanding

The 2015 Sports Economics Day would like to shed light on how drug abuse in recreational sports comes about and what can be done to combat it. Furthermore, the discussion of doping in professional sports is intended to be taken up and pursued with experienced practitioners. This discussion will aim to scrutinise the relationship between sporting activities and the consumption of drugs in both professional and recreational sports in order to arrive at a better understanding of the issue.

Recreational and professional sports

The first block (4.30-6.00 p.m.) will explicitly focus on recreational sports. The addiction psychologist Prof. Dr. Irmgard Vogt (Frankfurt University) will explain what motivation prompts recreational athletes to consume drugs in a sporting context. Subsequently, Emilie Lienhard will present the Swiss prevention programme cool & clean, which is largely aimed at young people. Lienhard is cool&clean ambassadress in the Canton of St.Gallen. In the second block (6.15-7.45 p.m.), Rolf Järmann and Dr. Walter O. Frey will be interviewed by Leonz Eder (Head of Unisport HSG) in order to discuss the problems in professional sports. To conclude, there will be a panel discussion involving all the speakers and the audience. Admission will be free.

Phote: photocase.com / markusspiste