doping

Doping is the deliberate use of substances or methods to enhance biological performance or properties. In sport, doping refers to the use of prohibited substances or techniques to gain an advantage. In other fields such as materials science, it means introducing impurities to modify an object's properties. In medicine, certain therapies involve agents that could be considered doping if used improperly.

In sport, examples of prohibited substances include anabolic steroids, erythropoietin, growth hormone, stimulants, and diuretics. Methods such as blood doping and gene doping are also banned. Anti-doping agencies, led by the World Anti-Doping Agency, set rules and maintain the prohibited list. Doping control involves collecting urine or blood samples and analyzing them for substances or markers. Violations can lead to disqualification, forfeiture of medals, bans, and public disclosure.

The issue raises ethical and health concerns. Doping can threaten athlete safety and undermine fair competition. Testing programs strive for accuracy and due process, but false positives and evasive strategies have occurred. Therapeutic use exemptions allow certain athletes with documented medical needs to use restricted substances under oversight.

In science, doping describes adding impurities to semiconductors to change electrical properties; dopants create n-type or p-type material, with common dopants like phosphorus or boron in silicon. Doping levels affect conductivity and device performance. In biology, the term is sometimes used loosely for genetic or cellular modifications, which are governed by strict ethical and regulatory frameworks.