The purpose of this study was to analyze the composition of 103 dietary supplements bought on the internet. The supplements were dispatched in four different categories according to their announced contents [creatine, prohormones, “mental enhancers” and branched chain amino acids (BCAA)]. All the supplements were screened for the presence of stimulants and main anabolic steroids parent compounds. At the same time, the research was focused on the precursors and metabolites of testosterone and nandrolone. The study pointed out three products containing an anabolic steroid, metandienone, in a very high amount. The ingestion of such products induced a high quantity of metandienone metabolites in urines that would be considered as a positive antidoping test. The results have also shown that one creatine product and three “mental enhancers” contained traces of hormones or prohormones not claimed on the labels and 14 prohormone products contained substances other than those indicated by the manufacturer. The oral intake of the creatine product revealed the presence of the two main nandrolone metabolites (19‐norandrosterone and 19‐noretiocholanolone) in urine.

The article reports findings on the perception of doping and anti-doping policies from four representative population surveys carried out in 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2004, as well as from a 2005 - 2006 survey of top-level athletes in Switzerland. The results show a growing public awareness for doping issues and increasing support for a comprehensive anti-doping strategy in Switzerland. The vast majority of the Swiss population and top-level athletes are strongly against doping and support a strategy that combines strict prohibition and sanctioning with informational and educational efforts. The perception of the doping issue and the strategic preferences in fighting doping stated by the public are largely in line with the current anti-doping strategy followed by the Swiss authorities. The results thus suggest a successful use of information resources by the authorities to create public awareness and to communicate its strategy.

The extent of drug abuse in mass sport is only poorly documented. Studies about drug abuse investigated only the prohibited substances according to the Olympic movement antidoping code. So for instance about the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) by school children or young students. But only few investigations point to the drug abuse in mass sport regarding the easily accessible over-the-counter drugs of the class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). These drugs permit an athlete to compete at his normal level of performance despite injuries or pain. However, the masking of pain may exacerbate the injury. Precautions should be taken to prevent the unwarranted or unmonitored use of anti-inflammatory agents during treatment of sport injuries. The abuse may be extensive since most people consider over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, harmless. Studies in Switzerland among endurance athletes in mass sport examining the use of medications before an event showed a prevalence between 5 and 10% of NSAID. Even if this seems a small number, further investigations should focus on the use of medications among different age groups and preventive information to abstain from the use of certain medication for competitors in mass sport should be worked out.