A research conducted by German public broadcaster ARD’s editorial has revealed the alarming size of doping in children worldwide. According to published data, about 10 million minors may be involved in using substances to improve sports performance.
Research authors have named this phenomenon the darkest arena of world sports, raising concerns about the lack of concrete measures from institutions and sports organs to combat it.
Research is part of a documentary series, whose publication begins on 13 November. To get to this figure, The ARD and other experts have analysed the results of 44 studies, conducted in 15 different states and based on confidential surveys with young people.
According to the United Nations, between 195 and 260 million children between the ages of 8 and 17 participate in competitive sports. The ARD estimate is based on the minimum rate of about 200 million children, which is compared to the results of studies on doping substances.
Young people have been asked anonymously if they used substances to improve their sports performance. According to German media, so far there has been no study that has addressed this phenomenon on a global scale.
Some 200 million children worldwide participate in competitive sports. And, according to studies, on average, 5 to 6 percent of children use doping substances, said ARD in Paulo David, former secretary of the UN Committee on Children’s Rights.
If we count on this, about 10 million children worldwide are involved in doping.
It is primarily about anabolic steroids and the growth hormone. David, author of the book Human Rights in Youth Sports, has warned of a serious problem that, according to him, insufficient action is being taken.
He pointed out that doping in children is not limited to elite sport and that providing illicit substances is easy.
Research has also revealed that there are times when children use doping substances without knowing that, after being introduced as harmless and allowed products. According to David, they are given pills presented as vitamins but actually containing doping substances, including anabolic steroids.
Meanwhile, despite the size that studies suggest, only about 100 children per year result in positive doping tests. According to research authors, this disagreement raises concerns about the extent of the cases.
The ARD documentary series is the result of six years of research in more than 50 countries and 25 different sports. It presents evidence that minors push towards using doping by trainers, officials, parents and doctors in the medal contest and financial benefits.
In countries where the problem is suspected to be even more widespread, such as Russia, India, and China, independent studies are lacking. Meanwhile, constant pressure on results and sports successes is pushing some children toward the use of doping substances that can cause side effects and long – term effects on their health.
The signal where the truth speaks before the news!
Source Layer: Signal
