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The consequences of doping

It's never worth it.

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Doping is serious, and its consequences are far-reaching. It can permanently damage your reputation, your health and your prospects in and out of sport. 

Anyone signed up to a sports organisation that abides by the Sports Anti-Doping Rules can be sanctioned for doping. There are 11 rules: they all apply to athletes, and seven of them apply to coaches and support personnel. 

A sanction for doping can mean: 

  • Ban. A ban from all sport – including competing, training and coaching; 
  • Disqualification. You and your team are stripped of event results, points, prizes and accolades; 
  • Public scrutiny. Publication of your rule violation, which may result in damaging media attention and public contempt. 

The implications of a sanction are broad. Any perceived short-term gain from doping is never worth the long-term consequences, which can impact many different parts of your life:

  • Career. A sanction can end your professional aspirations. The damage to your reputation may make it hard to find a place on a team or opportunities for coaching. 
  • Relationships. The pressure of a sanction can damage your relationships with teammates, peers and close whānau. Being unable to play sport may leave you feeling isolated. 
  • Finances. You may lose sponsorship opportunities, contracts or other funding, or face financial sanctions. 
  • Health. The health consequences of taking performance-enhancing substances can be serious and irreversible. 

Baaa'd behaviour: The consequences of doping

Watch this short video to discover the consequences doping can have on your life.

Rhys' story

Rugby player Rhys Pedersen describes the difficult experience of telling his whānau, coach and friends when he was notified that he had broken the Sports Anti-Doping Rules.