Perception of Nigeria university athletes about performance-enhancing substances and drug testing

ABSTRACT

There are growing concerns that the use of performance-enhancing substances among amateur athletes may be on the rise globally. While most studies done in Nigeria have been limited to elite athletes, the fact remains that Nigeria university athletes constitute about 40% of the country’s representatives in international competitions. This study assessed the perception of university athletes about performance-enhancing substances and drug testing.

A cross-sectional design was employed with the aid of semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires to gather data from 400 university athletes; information on socio-demographics, awareness and knowledge of performance-enhancing substances, perceptions about the use of performance-enhancing substances, drug testing and perceived factors influencing the use of performance-enhancing substances were obtained.

The age range of respondents was 15–33 years with the majority (81.8%) of them being Christians. The majority (71.3%) of the respondents were aware of performance-enhancing substances; males (74.0%) and females (66.0%). About three-quarters (74.0%) had at least a fair knowledge of performance-enhancing substances. Two-thirds (68.0%) of the respondents disagreed that all athletes use performance-enhancing substances in competitions, while almost all respondents (90.5%) agreed that athletes can perform excellently at competitions without the use of performance-enhancing substances. A majority (81.3%) of the respondents agreed that there should be a ban on all performance-enhancing substances. Three-quarters (76.8%) identified fear and anxiety as the major factors influencing the use of performance-enhancing substances, while the majority were in support of and willing to undertake drug testing. Most Nigeria university athletes are aware of side effects and perceive drug testing as appropriate and relevant.

KEYWORDS:

• Team sport
• testing
• youth
• behaviour
• doping

Acknowledgements

We appreciate the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Sport Council for granting us the permission to conduct this study among the Nigeria University Game Association (NUGA) participants of the 24th annual NUGA sports competition held in OAU, Ile-Ife, in 2014. Also, we are grateful to Mr Innocent Ekeh, English Department of OAU, for assisting with the English language editing of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Macellina Y. Ijadunola

Dr Macellina Yinyinade Ijadunola is a senior lecturer at the Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. She is a fellow of both the West African College of Physicians and Consortium for Advance Training in Africa. Her research interests are in Reproductive Health and Social and Rehabilitative Medicine.

Blessing O. Odia

Dr Blessing Omesi Odia is a senior resident in the Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. She is a member of the West African College of Physicians and her research interest is in Youth and Adolescents, Health.

Oladipo A. Adepoju

Dr Oladipo  A. Adepoju is a consultant psychiatrist In the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos state, Nigeria. He is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians. His research interests are in forensic psychiatry and consultation liaison psychiatry.

Kenneth O. Igwe

Dr Kenneth O. Igwe  graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. He is into medical practice with interest in research.

Ayorinde O. James

Dr Ayorinde O. James  graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. He is into medical practice with interest in research.

Yewande O. Koyenikan

Dr Yewande O. Koyenikan graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. She is into medical practice with interest in research.

Ukeme J. Inyang

Dr Ukeme J. Inyang graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. He is into medical practice with interest in research.

Babatunde A. Kabiawu

Dr Babatunde A. kabiawu graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria. He is into medical practice with interest in research.