It is supposed that surfers take anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are utilized by surfers too. Sport governing body claims that forbidden preparations are a great problem in this sport. That’s why the Association of Surfing Professionals made a decision to introduce testing for anabolic steroids and other prohibited drugs which are applied for performance-enhancing effects.
The Association of Surfing Professionals led several discussions with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They asked how they could introduce testing for forbidden drugs into surfing. Since anti-doping program of the WADA is considered to be the best policy, the surfing organization intends to apply this protocol. It goes without saying that this is the next victory of the WADA which promotes the possibility to control anti-doping programs in sports.
Everybody knows that surfing is a competitive sport. So, strength, speed and endurance are chief skills that promote winning. So, surfers could decide that intake of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs induces success greatly. It is also necessary to take in consideration that amount of money which is obtained by winners is large. Winners receive no less than 100, 000 dollars. Desire to receive money could lead surfers to decision to use anabolic steroids.
Nevertheless, it is said that administration of anabolic steroids and other preparations which cause performance-enhancing effects is not widespread in surfing. A lot of individuals think that usage of recreational drugs is more widespread among surfers than administration of steroids. Sport of 1970s and 1980s was frequently associated with marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Current facts justify this impression. The number of surfers that are caught using marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine is quite increased.
Andi Irons, a professional surfer, died in November 2010. The reason of his death was a heart attack caused by drug abuse. It was defined that steroids hadn’t been involved in this fatal case. Traces of methamphetamine, cocaine and methadone metabolites were found in his body.
Another surfer, Peter Davi, died in December 2007. Increased levels of meth were also found in his system.
As for Anthony Ruffo, another professional surfer, he was caught distributing meth.
Only the professional surfer from Brazil Neco Padaratz was caught taking steroids. He received a one-year ban. This person tested positive for banned products in 2004. This surfer claimed that he had administrated these drugs to receive a full recovery from back injuries. In spite of his defense, he was banned. He was the first person that was caught taking steroids by the Association of Surfing Professionals. According to many reports, he remains to be the only surfer that has ever been caught by the ASP.
The ASP has already the primary budget to introduce the WADA steroid program into surfing.
Although it is unlikely that steroids represent a problem in surfing, the new anti-doping program can create a wrong public perception.