Portugal has an I.O.C. accredited Doping Laboratory since 1987 and ratified the European Convention against Doping of the Council of Europe in 1994. Its anti-doping policy is developed in three main fields: doping control, informative and educational campaigns and scientific investigation. In conclusion it can be stated that Portugal had a percentage of positive cases in accordance with the data obtained in other countries with strong policies against doping. The anti-doping policy should therefore be continued in high-risk modalities like Body building, Boxing and Weight-lifting and the number of controls performed in apparently low-risk modalities like motor sports, golf and roller-hockey should be increased to understand their real risk of doping abuse. In Soccer, the n umber of controls should be increased in the 3rd league and might be decreased in the 1st League. In 1999, a total of 3000 controls are expected, 15% of which out of competition. The main objective of this study in to present the statistical data of doping controls performed in Portugal during 1998. Data from all the controls performed in Portugal during 1998 were inserted in a computerised database. A total of 2885 samples were collected, 229 (7,9%) of which out of competition. Compared to the previous year, these values represent an increment of 21,2% and 122% respectively. Thirty-five different modalities (13 more than in 1997) were controlled. The more frequently controlled modalities were Soccer (1300 samples) Athletics (434 samples), Cycling (380 samples) and Basketball (214 samples). This was due to the greater importance of these modalities in Portugal. A total of 56 positive cases (1,9 %) in 11 different modalities were found. The modalities with highest percentage of positive cases were Body-building (34,3%), Motor Sports (33.3%), Boxing (33,3%), Golf (20%), Roller-Hockey (3,3%), Weightlifting (2,5%), Basketball (2,3%), Soccer (2,0%), Triathlon (2,0%), Cycling (0,78%), Athletics (0,23%). A low number of controls was performed in Motor Sports, Boxing and Golf. The modalities with more positives cases were: Soccer (n = 26); Body-building (n = 12); Basketball (n = 5) and Cycling (n = 3). In Soccer, the highest percentage of positive cases was found in the 3rd League (16,7%). The 1st and 2nd leagues had lower percentages, 0,5% and 1,2% respectively. The distribution of positive cases in different groups of banned substances included stimulants (38,6%), anabolic agents (24,6%), cannabinoids (21,1%), local anaesthetics (14,0%) and diuretics (1,7%).
© Copyright 1999 5th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences with the Annual Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 1999. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.