An athlete runs very high risks by consuming doping substances or by using prohibited methods. This may result in very severe health but also sporting, financial, legal, and social consequences.
Physical health
Depending on the substance, the dosage, and the consumption frequency, doping products may have particularly negative side effects on health. Some damages to the body are irreversible and may lead to the athlete’s life being in great danger.
Mental health
Some doping substances may not be detrimental to the body but exercise has an impact on mental health. It has been scientifically evidenced that anxiety, obsessive disorders, or psychosis are direct consequences of doping.
Social consequences
The existence of an athlete who was held guilty of doping may be completely disrupted. Indeed, doping may represent a danger to health, but it may also be prejudicial to fame, respect, and creditworthiness. Even in the future negative findings are regularly questioned by the media and the entourage. The poor image will remain in the collective unconscious and the athlete could remain isolated.
Financial consequences
As regards high-performance sports, an infringement of Anti-Doping rules often leads to a loss of income, the reimbursement of prizemoney and of sponsorship money. An athlete suspended for several years, or even life-banned, cannot earn his/her living as usual and can even be forced into debt to live on a day-to-day basis.
Sporting consequences
A doping violation may mean loss of results, rankings, medals, and qualification places at events. It could also have an impact on members of a team causing medals to be lost.
Legal consequences
Doping may have major legal consequences. Adopted athlete may be suspended, i.e. he/she may not take part in sports competitions or in organized training sessions.