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The use of medication and nutritional supplements during FIFA World Cups 2002 and 2006

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Tscholl, P, Junge, A, Dvorak, J·2008·British Journal of Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1136/bjsm.2007.045187PMC PMC2582332
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Abstract

Objective: To examine medication use in male top-level football players prior to and during international tournaments. Design: Prospective survey. Material: 2944 team physicians’ reports on players’ medication intake. Methods: Each team physician was asked to document all medication and nutritional supplements taken in the 72 h prior to each match. Results: A total of 10 384 substances were reported (1.8 substances/player/match); 4450 (42.9%) of these were medicinal and 5934 (57.1%) nutritional supplements. The medications prescribed most frequently were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (n = 2092; 20.1%); more than half of the players took these at least once during a tournament and more than 10% prior to every match (156 out of 1472). β-2-Agonists were reported for 1.4% (n = 20) and inhaled corticosteroids for 1.6% (n = 23) of participating players. Injected corticosteroids were reported for 73 players. Conclusions: The high intake of medication in international football – especially of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – is alarming and should be addressed. The results raise questions as to whether the medication was taken solely for therapeutic reasons. In view of the potential side effects, more restrictive recommendations for sport need to be developed.

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  • The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine provided a guideline with the main sports supplements to improve athletes' performance.

    “Recently, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada (DC), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) provided a guideline prepared mainly by their members with the main sports supplements to improve the athletes' performance [3].”

    From Dietary and Ergogenic Supplementation to Improve Elite Soccer Players’ Performance (2021) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Results section lists supplements reported during the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, while the Discussion addresses their use and the need for professional advice; page numbers are unavailable in our copy. A search for the three named organizations and a sports-supplement guideline found no passage saying they issued the guideline described in the claim. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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Research works printed but not linked: 25

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Authors
Tscholl, P., Junge, A., & Dvorak, J.
Affiliations
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (CH)
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2008-02-28
Volume
42
Issue
9
Pages
725-730
ISSN
  • 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
  • 1473-0480
DOI
10.1136/bjsm.2007.045187
PMC
PMC2582332
OpenAlex
W2137981670
Cited by
133
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 5
FWCI
35.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Doping in Sports
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
medication use, dietary supplements, football players, FIFA World Cup, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, beta2-adrenergic agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, doping, performance-enhancing drugs, team physician
MeSH terms
Adrenal Cortex Hormones, Adult, Analgesics, Anti-Infective Agents, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal, Doping in Sports, Drug Utilization, Humans, Male, Muscle Relaxants, Central, Prospective Studies, Soccer, Micronutrients, Respiratory System Agents, Dietary Supplements, Proton Pump Inhibitors

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