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'Doping poisons combat sports, a change in culture is inevitable'

March 28, 20233 min read

The Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (VA, the Dutch combat sports regulator) sees the doping study just published by the Mulier Instituut (Mulier Institute, sports research institute) as confirmation that combat sports must do far more to reduce the use of doping. "If you want combat sports to be credible and to have a future, doping control at competitions is not enough," says VA chair Herbert Dekkers. "Attitudes have to change among people who still do not regard doping as a problem. A change in culture is inevitable if combat sports are to have a future."

The study just published indicates that a considerable proportion of those practising combat sports and fitness use doping. "The use of substances such as anabolic steroids appears to be accepted by too large a share of combat sports participants," Dekkers notes. "The study shows that many people take far too casual an attitude towards doping. The health risks are substantial when you misuse medicines that are not intended for healthy athletes at all. A great many illegally obtained substances are also used, and users have no idea in which shady laboratories they were made. They have no idea which substances they are actually putting into their bodies or what the effects on their health are. It is often Russian roulette."

"People also often seem to think that everyone should be free to decide for themselves. But doping in combat sports can also have serious consequences for others. A cyclist who uses doping is cheating. A kickboxer who uses doping is not only cheating, but may also seriously injure someone with the extra power, or worse. That makes it entirely irresponsible."

The VA considers that the report sends a strong signal, but does have critical questions about the group of respondents, which raise doubts about the reliability of the study. The average age of the respondents, 37, is rather high and not representative of combat sports. There also appears to be a considerable overrepresentation of participants of Dutch origin in the research group, whereas the sector is highly diverse. The VA will therefore enter into discussions with the Mulier Instituut to see whether a more representative group of respondents can produce a more precise picture.

In any event, the VA sees the report as confirmation of the need for structural anti-doping efforts in combat sports. To that end, the regulator concluded a contract two years ago with the Dopingautoriteit (Doping Authority, the Dutch national anti-doping organisation), which has been carrying out controls around competitions since last year. The VA does not intend to stop there. Because only competitive fighters are tested for doping, while use among recreational participants is also at a problematic level, the VA intends to set up an information campaign aimed at recreational gym users, together with the trade association NL Actief, which represents the fitness sector. This plan is in line with the researchers' recommendations. "The normalisation that has been identified must be halted. Doping poisons combat sports. If you simply let that happen, the sport throws away its future."