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Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances that improve athletic performance. They can be used to increase muscle mass, endurance, and recovery. While PED use is not common in the National Basketball Association (NBA), there have been a few suspensions of players for using these substances. In 2019, three players were suspended for 25 games each after testing positive for PEDs, which was an unprecedented number of suspensions in a single season for the NBA. Wilson Chandler, for example, was suspended for using Ipamorelin, a growth hormone that decreases body fat and increases lean muscle mass. While there is speculation about the prevalence of PED use in the NBA, it has not faced a major scandal like other sports leagues such as Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of NBA players who tested positive for PEDs | 13 |
| Number of NBA players | 450 |
| Percentage of NBA players who tested positive for PEDs | 2.89% |
| Number of players who tested positive for PEDs in the 2019 season | 3 |
| Number of suspensions for PEDs in the 2019 season | 3 |
| Length of suspension for the first PED offense | 25 games |
| Length of suspension for the second PED offense | 55 games |
| Length of suspension for the third PED offense | Minimum of 2 years |
| Number of NBA players who tested positive for SPEDs over the last dozen years | 9 |
| Percentage of NBA players who tested positive for SPEDs over the last dozen years | 2% |
| Number of players who tested positive for SPEDs during the 2017-2019 seasons | 2 |
| Number of NBA players who tested positive for SPEDs and played in All-Star games | 2 |
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What You'll Learn
Why there's never been a PED scandal in the NBA
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have been a problem in many sports, with high-profile scandals in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, track and field, and cycling. However, there has never been a significant PED scandal in the National Basketball Association (NBA). While there have been some isolated cases of NBA players testing positive for banned substances, the league has never experienced a widespread PED scandal.
One reason for the lack of PED scandals in the NBA could be the relatively low number of positive drug tests. In the history of the league, only 13 athletes have ever tested positive for banned substances, including three players in 2019. This is a minuscule number compared to the total number of players in the league. However, some have speculated that the true number of players using PEDs may be higher, and the league is simply turning a blind eye.
Another factor contributing to the lack of PED scandals in the NBA could be a lack of interest from fans and the media. Unlike in other sports, NBA fans and the media do not seem to be as concerned about the potential use of PEDs by players. If a superstar player like LeBron James or Anthony Davis were rumored to be involved in a PED scheme, it is unlikely that there would be much anger or condemnation from fans. The media also does not seem to be as focused on PED usage in the NBA as they are in other sports.
Additionally, the NBA is a business, and the players are expensive investments. There may be a lack of incentive to investigate or publicize potential PED usage, as it could tarnish the reputation of the league and its players. It is also worth noting that the NBA has a closed-off culture when it comes to the media, which may make it more difficult for reporters to access information about PED usage.
While there is some speculative evidence and conjecture surrounding PED usage in the NBA, it has not escalated into a full-blown scandal. The lack of widespread public outrage, combined with the relatively low number of positive drug tests, has allowed the NBA to maintain its reputation and avoid the scandals that have plagued other sports leagues.
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The rise in PED suspensions in the NBA
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances that improve athletic performance. While PED use is not uncommon among professional athletes, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has historically maintained a relatively clean image, with only 13 athletes ever testing positive for banned substances. However, in 2019, the NBA experienced a notable rise in PED suspensions, with three players receiving 25-game suspensions within the first few weeks of the 2019-2020 season. This marked an unprecedented frequency of PED-related suspensions in the league, as no more than two players had previously tested positive in the same season.
The three players suspended in 2019 included Wilson Chandler of the Brooklyn Nets, Deandre Ayton of the Suns, and John Collins of the Hawks. Chandler tested positive for Ipamorelin, a growth hormone that decreases body fat and increases lean muscle mass. Ayton was found to have used diuretics, which increase urine flow and are often employed to mask doping. Meanwhile, Collins tested positive for GHRP-2, a substance that stimulates food intake.
The sudden spike in PED suspensions raised questions about the prevalence of PED use in the NBA. Some speculated that the league was simply conducting more frequent testing, while others suggested that the issue might be more widespread than previously believed. Notably, in 2011, current Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose estimated the prevalence of PED use in the NBA to be a "seven" out of ten in an ESPN The Magazine story, indicating a significant presence of performance-enhancing substances in the league.
Despite the concerns, the NBA has managed to avoid a full-blown PED scandal, and fan trust in the league remains relatively intact. This is in contrast to other sports leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL), which have faced significant PED controversies. The relative lack of public outcry over PED use in the NBA suggests a level of apathy or indifference among fans and the media, indicating that the issue may not carry the same weight as it does in other sports.
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The testing policy for PEDs in the NBA
The NBA has been criticised for its anti-doping programme, with some describing it as "inadequate", "pathetic", and "a joke". Despite this, there has never been a performance-enhancing drug (PED) scandal in the NBA, and the league's reputation has remained largely unscathed.
The NBA's anti-doping programme has been described as having "gaps" by the director-general of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), David Howman. Howman has recommended that the league test for human growth hormone (HGH), which was added to the NBA's testing programme before the 2015-16 season. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, players can be randomly tested up to four times during the season (twice for HGH) and twice during the offseason (once for HGH).
Despite the criticism of the NBA's testing programme, there have been very few failed doping tests, and none from top-tier players. In the history of the league, no more than two players have tested positive in the same season, until the 2019-20 season, when three players tested positive for banned substances in the first three weeks. These players received 25-game suspensions.
While there has been speculation about PED use in the NBA, and some players have tested positive for banned substances, the league has never had a major PED scandal. This may be due to the relatively low level of public interest in PED use in the NBA, with fans and the media seemingly less concerned about the issue compared to other sports.
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The incentives for NBA players to use PEDs
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances that improve athletic performance beyond an individual's natural capacity. While PED use is not pervasive in the NBA, there have been a few suspensions of players for using these substances.
There are several incentives for NBA players to use PEDs. Firstly, the financial gains and career advancements that can result from enhanced athletic performance may motivate players to turn to PEDs. NBA players have the financial means to access designer drugs that are tailored to their body chemistry and can evade detection, especially when taken in small doses.
Secondly, the recovery benefits of PEDs can be enticing for players. The lengthy NBA season, with its demanding schedule and physical toll on players' bodies, creates an incentive to use PEDs to expedite recovery and maintain performance levels throughout the season. This is particularly advantageous for players seeking to extend their careers or perform at a high level over an extended period.
Additionally, the weak testing policies and lack of public scrutiny in the NBA create an environment where players may feel they can use PEDs without significant consequences. The NBA's testing policy has been criticised for its infrequency and leniency, with some speculating that the league and media may have an unwritten rule to avoid discussing the issue to maintain the league's integrity.
Furthermore, the potential for improved physical appearance and prolonged youthfulness may be an incentive for some players to use PEDs, particularly those concerned with their public image and longevity in the league.
Lastly, the competitive nature of the sport and the desire to gain an edge over opponents may drive players to use PEDs. However, it is important to note that PEDs can have negative side effects, including increased susceptibility to injury, muscle cramps, and dehydration, which could negatively impact a player's performance and health.
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The side effects of PED use
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have the potential to drastically alter the human body and biological functions, including a significant improvement in athletic performance. However, they can also have severe side effects and are extremely dangerous, and in some cases, deadly.
PEDs can cause a wide range of physiological and psychological side effects. Anabolic steroid abuse, for example, can result in premature closure of the growth centres of long bones in adolescents, leading to stunted growth and disruption of puberty. It can also increase aggressiveness and sexual appetite, sometimes resulting in abnormal sexual and criminal behaviour, often referred to as "Roid Rage". Withdrawal from anabolic steroid use has been associated with depression and, in some cases, suicide.
Other side effects of PED use include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, nervousness, diarrhoea, and perspiration. They can also cause bone pain, muscle hypertrophy, acne, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, thrombosis, altered libido, hepatic carcinoma, cholestasis, peliosis hepatitis, septic arthritis, Wilm's tumour, psychosis, aggression, addiction, and depression.
Some PEDs, such as Human Growth Hormone (hGH), can cause cardiomyopathy, diabetes, renal failure, and hepatitis. hGH is one of the most commonly used substances among professional athletes due to its small window for detection.
Additionally, the use of PEDs can lead to high-risk health behaviours. For example, athletes who use PEDs are more likely to engage in unprotected sex and needle sharing, increasing the risk of infections such as hepatitis and HIV. They may also combine PEDs with other substances, such as alcohol and opiates, which can have dangerous interactions and further increase the risk of negative side effects.
Furthermore, PEDs can have long-term consequences on the user's health, including damage to organs such as the liver, kidneys, brain, and heart. This is especially true when combined with the physical demands and injuries of a sport like basketball, which can result in ligament, bone, and muscle damage.
While the short-term gains of PED use may be tempting for athletes, the potential side effects and long-term health risks greatly outweigh the benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
PED stands for Performance-Enhancing Drugs.
While there has never been a PED scandal in the NBA, there is speculation that PEDs are used in the league. Some NBA players have tested positive for PEDs.
The NBA does not want its brand tarnished by a scandal involving performance-enhancing substances. The league also wants to protect the health of its players, as PEDs can have negative side effects. In addition, there is little public scrutiny surrounding PEDs in the NBA.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players' Association jointly administer a drug testing policy. Under this policy, urine samples are collected from players randomly up to four times during the season and twice during the offseason.
If a player tests positive for a SPED (steroid or performance-enhancing drug), they receive an automatic 25-game suspension. A second offense leads to a 55-game suspension, and a third offense triggers a minimum two-year ban from the NBA.
