Einleitung

The investigation on the prevalence of tobacco smoking in controlled athletes is of interest since it is the first preventable toxic habit; an association between cigarette smoking and long-term decline in physical performance has been demonstrated. Indeed, during the timeframe of the study, nicotine was among the substances placed in the Monitoring Program of the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA). WADA-selected laboratories, among them the Italian WADA-accredited lab, participating in the monitoring programme for nicotine were given specific requirements, for example to measure nicotine and its two major metabolites, cotinine and trans-3’-hydroxycotinine, with established thresholds. On the basis of urinary concentrations of nicotine, and its principal metabolites, found in Italian athletes undergoing an anti-doping control by the Anti-Doping Act 376 in 2014, the present study comments on the resulting smoking habits of tested athletes from different sport disciplines. (gekürzt und geändert)