Search Results (126)

Conductive hydrogels demonstrate substantial potential for flexible wearable sensors in motion monitoring, owing to their unique physicochemical properties; however, current implementations still confront persistent challenges in long-term stability, sensitivity, response speed, and detection limits under complex dynamic conditions, which material innovations are urgently required to resolve. Consequently, this paper comprehensively reviews the recent advancements in conductive hydrogel-based flexible wearable sensors for sports applications. The paper examines the conductivity, self-adhesion, self-repair, and biocompatibility of conductive hydrogels, along with detailed analyses of their working principles in resistance, capacitance, piezoelectric, and battery-based sensing mechanisms. Additionally, the paper summarizes innovative strategies to enhance sensor performance through polymer blending, polyelectrolyte doping, inorganic salt doping, and nanomaterial integration. Furthermore, the paper highlights the latest applications of conductive hydrogel flexible wearable sensors in human motion monitoring, electrophysiological signal detection, and electrochemical biosignal monitoring. Finally, the paper provides an in-depth discussion of the advantages and limitations of existing technologies, offering valuable insights and new perspectives for future research directions. Full article

Mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety, have become increasingly prevalent among elite athletes, exacerbated by factors such as competitive pressure and the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study analyzes trends in the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and cannabinoids (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)/cannabidiol (CBD)) among Italian athletes from 2011 to the first half of 2023 (FH2023), referring to anti-doping reports published by the Italian Ministry of Health. Data from 13,079 athletes were examined, with a focus on non-prohibited medications, banned substances, and regulatory impacts, including threshold adjustments for THC since 2013 and the legalization of CBD. The results show fluctuating use of antidepressants/anxiolytics, with peaks in 2021 and the FH2023, coinciding with post-pandemic awareness. Positive THC cases rose following regulatory changes, reflecting socio-cultural trends. Gender disparities emerged, with THC use predominantly among males (e.g., nine males vs. one female in 2013), though female athletes were underrepresented in testing. This study highlights the need for personalized, evidence-based strategies that balance therapeutic efficacy and anti-doping compliance. Clinicians should carefully consider prescribing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines to address depression and anxiety and should monitor the risks of CBD contamination. Future research should adopt longitudinal, gender-sensitive approaches to refining guidelines and combating stigma in professional sports. Full article

Background: In order to address complex scenarios in anti-doping science, especially in cases where an unintentional exposure of athletes to prohibited substances and a corresponding contamination of doping control samples at the collection event are argued, an understanding of tissue-specific drug metabolism is essential. Hence, in this study, the metabolic capacity of the seminal vesicle using in vitro assays was investigated. Methods: The aim was to assess whether selected doping-relevant substances—stanozolol, LGD-4033, GW1516, trimetazidine, and anastrozole—are metabolised in seminal vesicle cellular fractions (SV-S9) and how that metabolism compares to biotransformations induced by human liver S9 fractions (HL-S9). Liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution/accurate mass spectrometry (LC HRAM MS) enabled the sensitive detection and identification of metabolites, revealing a limited metabolic activity of SV-S9. Results: For LGD-4033, GW1516, and trimetazidine, minor metabolic transformations were observed, whereas no metabolites of stanozolol or anastrozole were detected. Gene expression analysis using digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) confirmed transcripts of CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP2C9 in SV-S9, though no enzymatic activity was detected. Gene expression and enzymatic activity in CYP3A4 and CYP1A2—major hepatic enzymes—were absent in SV-S9. Conclusions: Overall, these pilot study results suggest that the seminal vesicle has only a low capacity for xenobiotic metabolism, which translates into a limited role in the biotransformation of drugs and, hence, the metabolic pattern. Full article

Humanity has used and explored various performance-enhancing remedies since ancient times. To protect clean sport, athletes’ health, and to provide fair and transparent competitions, different anti-doping policies were implemented. Nowadays, the anti-doping policies are evolving every year and are governed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The use of doping in sports is regarded as a persistent problem across various athletic disciplines; at the same time, the topic of whether doping is preventable is highly discussed. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of medical specialists about doping compounds and to analyze their willingness and preparedness to participate in doping prevention programs. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted between March 2024 and May 2024. Study participants included medical and pharmacy students, pharmacists, and medical doctors. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 24.0. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and independent-samples t-test were applied to analyze different variables. The results from the study suggested that healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, could be successfully engaged in doping prevention. Additionally, community pharmacies could also be involved in doping-prevention strategies since they are recognized as easily accessible healthcare locations. The relationship between medical specialists and professional athletes is essential for raising awareness, receiving trustworthy information, and developing decision-making capability to prevent not only the intentional but also the unintentional anti-doping rule violations. Full article

This study analyzes and compares sports supplement (SS) consumption among federated road cyclists, considering sex and competition category. The aim is to identify key factors influencing SS use and provide insights for developing nutritional strategies in cycling. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted, involving 1503 cyclists (1231 men and 272 women). Data were collected through a validated questionnaire assessing anthropometric data, training habits, SS consumption patterns, and sources of information. Results indicate that 64.3% of cyclists currently use SS. Women reported a significantly higher consumption rate (88.2%) compared to men (59.1%), although men had a higher average SS intake than women (8.28 ± 9.36 vs. 6.76 ± 5.96). Additionally, SS use decreased with age and competition level, with elite cyclists showing the highest prevalence (76.3%) and master 50 the lowest (58.4%). Group A supplements (scientifically supported) were the most frequently used, while Group C supplements (limited evidence) and Group D substances (prohibited) were more commonly consumed by men. Findings highlight significant differences in SS consumption based on sex and competition level, with elite cyclists and women reporting higher prevalence. However, men reported a higher average number of SS consumed. The study underscores the need for targeted nutritional education, particularly among master cyclists, to promote evidence-based SS use and minimize the risks of ineffective or unsafe supplementation. Future research should explore the long-term effects of SS consumption in cycling and the effectiveness of educational interventions for safe and optimized supplementation practices. Full article

Doping undermines fairness in sports and threatens athlete health, while conventional detection methods like LC-MS and GC-MS face challenges such as complex procedures, matrix interferences, and lengthy processing times, limiting on-site applications. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, including graphene, MoS₂, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), offer promising solutions due to their large surface areas, tunable electronic structures, and special interactions with doping agents, such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and electrostatic forces. These materials enable signal transduction through changes in conductivity or fluorescence quenching. This review highlights the use of 2D materials in doping detection. For example, reduced graphene oxide–MOF composites show high sensitivity for detecting anabolic steroids like testosterone, while NiO/NGO nanocomposites exhibit strong selectivity for stimulants like ephedrine. However, challenges such as environmental instability and high production costs hinder their widespread application. Future efforts should focus on improving material stability through chemical modifications, reducing production costs, and integrating these materials into advanced systems like machine learning. Such advancements could revolutionize doping detection, ensuring fairness in sports and protecting athlete health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Universities serve as crucibles for molding future healthcare providers, instilling medical expertise and ethical frameworks crucial for their role as custodians of health. Yet, integrating anti-doping education into university curricula remains largely underexplored, particularly among future physicians. The aim of this research was to evaluate the students’ understanding of anti-doping within the bachelor’s degree in medicine in Mexico. Methods: Five hundred and forty-nine bachelor students in medicine (151 males, 351 females, and 7 participants identifying as non-binary) from six universities in Mexico filled out a validated questionnaire regarding general anti-doping knowledge. This questionnaire was an adapted form of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Play True Quiz and included 36 multiple-choice questions. The results were converted into a scale from 0 to 100 points to evaluate anti-doping knowledge. Results: Students scored 55.30 ± 9.08 points (range = 28–83 points). Fourteen questions indicated an error rate higher than 50% within the sample. The course had no impact on the scores achieved in the anti-doping knowledge questionnaire (p > 0.05). Students who engaged in sports demonstrated higher scores in anti-doping knowledge compared to those who did not participate in any type of exercise (56.10 ± 9.04 vs. 54.19 ± 9.10 points; p = 0.008). Conclusions: It was determined that the knowledge of essential anti-doping regulations and doping prevention strategies among bachelor’s degree medical students in Mexico was found to be suboptimal. Doping prevention should be included in the syllabus of the bachelor’s degree in medicine to help future doctors avoid professional errors, whether negligent or intentional. Full article

Background: Neuroenhancement in sports, through pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, is a complex and highly debated topic with no definitive regulatory framework established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The hypothesis that dermatological changes could serve as observable biomarkers for neurodoping introduces a novel and promising approach to detecting and understanding the physiological impacts of cognitive enhancers in athletes. As neurodoping methods become increasingly sophisticated, developing objective, reliable, and non-invasive detection strategies is imperative. Utilizing dermatological signs as a diagnostic tool for internal neurophysiological changes could offer critical insights into the safety, fairness, and ethical considerations of cognitive enhancement in competitive sports. A systematic correlation between skin manifestations, the timeline of neurodoping practices, and the intensity of cognitive enhancement methods could provide healthcare professionals valuable tools for monitoring athletes’ health and ensuring strict compliance with anti-doping regulations. Methods: Due to the limited body of research on this topic, a systematic review of the literature was conducted, spanning from 2010 to 31 December 2024, using databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. This study followed the 2020 PRISMA guidelines and included English-language articles published within the specified period, focusing on skin lesions as adverse reactions to pharmacological and non-pharmacological neuroenhancement methods. The research employed targeted keywords, including “skin lesions AND rivastigmine”, “skin lesions AND galantamine”, “skin lesions AND donepezil”, “skin lesions AND memantine”, and “skin lesions AND transcranial direct electrical stimulation”. Given the scarcity of studies directly addressing neurodoping in sports, the search criteria were broadened to include skin reactions associated with cognitive enhancers and brain stimulation. Eighteen relevant articles were identified and analyzed. Results: The review identified rivastigmine patches as the most used pharmacological method for neuroenhancement, with pruritic (itchy) skin lesions as a frequent adverse effect. Donepezil was associated with fewer and primarily non-pruritic skin reactions. Among non-pharmacological methods, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was notably linked to skin burns, primarily due to inadequate electrode–skin contact, prolonged exposure, or excessive current intensity. These findings suggest that specific dermatological manifestations could serve as potential indicators of neurodoping practices in athletes. Conclusions: Although specific neuroenhancement methods demonstrate distinctive dermatological side effects that might signal neurodoping, the current lack of robust clinical data involving athletes limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions. Athletes who engage in neurodoping without medical supervision are at an elevated risk of adverse dermatological and systemic reactions. Skin lesions, therefore, could represent a valuable early diagnostic marker for the inappropriate use or overuse of cognitive-enhancing drugs or neuromodulation therapies. The findings emphasize the need for focused clinical research to establish validated dermatological criteria for detecting neurodoping. This research could contribute significantly to the ongoing neuroethical discourse regarding the legitimacy and safety of cognitive enhancement in sports. Full article

The use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been found to improve different cardiopulmonary-related variables that ultimately enhance endurance performance. The main goal of this systematic review was to analyze the hematological, physiological, and performance effects (both maximal and submaximal) of rHuEPO in well-trained endurance athletes. A literature search was conducted in three different databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) on 20 January 2025; including studies published from 1 January 2010 to the search date. After analyzing 985 resultant articles and 5 records identified outside of the databases through citation tracking, 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review. We found that, regardless of the total dose of rHuEPO used, this substance improves the main hematological (total hemoglobin mass, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit) and physiological (maximal oxygen uptake and peak oxygen uptake) parameters, while the maximal performance-related parameters (mainly, maximal power output, and peak power output) also tend to increase. However, further research is needed to determine if rHuEPO can also improve submaximal parameters, which are also major determinants of performance in endurance sports. Full article

Objectives/Background: The Cannabis genus contain a mixture of cannabinoids and other minor components which have been studied so far. In this narrative review, we highlight the main aspects of the polarized discussion between abuse and toxicity versus the benefits of the compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Methods: We investigated databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) documents for scientific publications that can elucidate the heated discussion related to the negative aspects of addiction, organ damage and improved sports performance and the medical benefits, particularly in athletes, of some compounds that are promising as nutrients. Results: Scientific arguments bring forward the harmful effects of cannabinoids, ethical and legislative aspects of their usage as doping substances in sports. We present the synthesis and metabolism of the main cannabis compounds along with identification methods for routine anti-doping tests. Numerous other studies attest to the beneficial effects, which could bring a therapeutic advantage to athletes in case of injuries. These benefits recommend Cannabis sativa compounds as nutrients, as well as potential pharmacological agents. Conclusions and Future Perspectives: From the perspective of both athletes and illegal use investigators in sport, there are many interpretations, presented and discussed in this review. Despite many recent studies on cannabis species, there is very little research on the beneficial effects in active athletes, especially on large groups compared to placebo. These studies may complete the current vision of this topic and clarify the hypotheses launched as discussions in this review. Full article

Diuretics are essential medicines used in the management of hypertension, heart failure, edema, and other medical conditions. Due to their effectiveness in promoting water loss, many cases of undeclared diuretics in dietary supplements (DSs) have been reported. Most of these DSs were marketed for “weight loss promotion” and “detoxification”. Diuretics are regarded as doping compounds as well because of their significant potential to cause weight loss or mask the usage of other doping compounds. The intake of DSs that contain undeclared diuretics can result in serious consequences, including side effects, drug–drug interactions, and the violation of anti-doping rules if such products are taken by professional athletes. The aim of the present study was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for monitoring DSs for undeclared diuretics. The validated method allows for simultaneous monitoring for furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and torasemide. The LOD and LOQ were 0.78 μg/mL and 2.38 μg/mL for hydrochlorothiazide, 0.99 μg/mL and 3.01 μg/mL for torasemide, and 0.69 μg/mL and 2.08 μg/mL for furosemide. The method was successfully utilized to screen ten DSs for undeclared diuretics. Contamination was detected in only one sample. These results underscore the critical need for regulatory oversight and independent quality control of DSs. Implementing routine screening could significantly reduce the risk of adverse health effects and unintentional doping among athletes. Ultimately, this study contributes to enhancing consumer safety and ensuring fair competition in sports. Full article

Doping prevention transcends elite sports, highlighting a broader societal challenge where performance enhancement is driven by pressures to increase strength, beauty, and status. This issue extends to adolescents and non-competitive sports participants, where self-optimization pressures are increasingly normalized. Research underscores the need for tailored educational interventions that go beyond punitive measures, fostering ethical decision-making and personal responsibility. The recent literature emphasizes that addressing psychological protective factors, such as self-efficacy and emotional regulation, can effectively mitigate substance use risks. The project “Sport Informa” involved the educational community and adolescents between the ages of 16 and 19, with the goal of providing knowledge about the phenomenon of doping and acquiring tools useful for enhancing self-esteem and self-management skills, in order to prevent the risk of doping by promoting a balanced psychophysical development in young people. A 16 h online training program was delivered to high school teachers. The training provided knowledge about doping, its psychological and social implications, and practical tools for promoting protective factors in students. A longitudinal design was employed, with data collected before and after the intervention using validated psychometric tools, including the Self-Efficacy Scale, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire. Results showed significant improvements in teachers’ psychological dimensions, particularly in self-efficacy and emotional regulation, which they subsequently applied in their interactions with students. Finally, a survey was conducted with young participants who took part in the project activities to assess their self-evaluation of key factors relevant to designing future educational interventions and events aimed at preventing doping use. Full article

Background: The use of sport supplements may represent a risk factor for the use of doping in sports. To explore this putative risk, the current study examined the frequency of sport supplement use and associations between the use of sport supplements and the use of doping substances and methods in athletes. Methods: The participants (n = 345; 56% male, 22 ± 5 years, 18–43 years) completed measures of sport supplement use, sport supplement beliefs, doping likelihood, and doping use. Based on the Australian Institute of Sport’s “Sports Supplement Framework”, the participants were asked whether they used 23 sport supplements from four categories (sport foods, medical supplements, performance supplements, other). They were also asked whether they used six classes of doping substances and methods (alphabodies, stimulants, steroids, erythropoietin, growth hormone, blood doping). Results: Sport supplements were used by 96% of the athletes, whereas doping substances were used by 4% of the athletes. Moreover, athletes who used more sport supplements also used more doping substances. The use of sport supplements was related to the use of doping substances both directly and indirectly via sport supplement beliefs and doping likelihood. Conclusions: Consumption of sport supplements is common, whereas doping is rare, and, moreover, the belief that sport supplements help optimize performance in competitive sport confers an increased risk for doping. Full article

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), as novel electronic devices for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, are better suited as signal-testing sensors or as components within larger wearable Internet of Things (IoT) or Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, where they handle small-device power supply and signal acquisition. Consequently, TENGs hold promising applications in self-powered sensor technology. As global energy supplies become increasingly tight, research into self-powered sensors has become critical. This study presents a self-powered sport sensor system utilizing a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which incorporates a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film doped with graphene and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as friction materials. The graphene-doped TPU nanocomposite film-based TENG (GT-TENG) demonstrates excellent working durability. Furthermore, the GT-TENG not only consistently powers an LED but also supplies energy to a sports timer and an electronic watch. It serves additionally as a self-powered sensor for monitoring human movement. The design of this self-powered motion sensor system effectively harnesses human kinetic energy, integrating it seamlessly with sport sensing capabilities. Full article

Background: Excessive or improper use of dietary supplements (DSs) by athletes may cause adverse effects, such as impaired performance or failing a doping test, making it important for athletes to mitigate risk and make well-informed choices when using supplements. Methods: This study used focus group interviews to examine the attitudes, motivations, and practices related to DSs among male elite ice hockey players. Results: The players used a wide range of products, ranging from vitamins to multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements. Consuming DSs was considered as a practical and convenient way to ingest sufficient calories to gain or maintain the body weight and muscle mass needed to meet the physical requirements of the sport. The athletes demonstrated a lenient and ignorant attitude when acquiring and using supplements, with a non-critical trust in the guidance provided to them by the coach or physician. Having completed basic anti-doping education in the form of an e-learning program did not appear to result in taking a more careful approach to using DSs. Conclusions: Through their DS practices, elite ice hockey players may put themselves at risk for anti-doping rule violations. A comprehensive approach is needed when aiming to prevent unintentional doping in this athlete cohort. Full article