Abstract des Autors

The aims of this investigation were to compile evidence on substance-use-and-misuse (SUM) and to identify factors related to potential-doping-behaviour (PDB) in rugby union. The subjects were 105 rugby athletes (all males; 23.4 +/- 4.1 years; 99 percent respondents). The variables included socio-demographic factors, SUM-data, sport-factors, knowledge-on-doping (KD), and PDB. Data showed high alcohol consumption, with more than 30 percent of the athletes binge drinking at least once per week. Approximately 52 percent of the subjects used dietary-supplementation (DS) and 23 percent reported PDB, whereas 55 percent believed that doping is present in rugby. Forward conditional logistic regression revealed that less rugby experience (OR:1.286; 95 percent CI:1.058-1.563; p < 0.05), less smoking (OR:2.034; 95 percent CI:1.100-3.760; p < 0.05), higher DS usage (OR:5.543; 95 percent CI:1.666-18.444; p < 0.01), and a stronger belief that doping is present in rugby (OR:0.305; 95 percent CI:0.066-0.638; p < 0.01) were significant predictors of PDB. The high PDB and alcohol consumption warrant a serious intervention on these problems in rugby. Verf.-Referat