What you need to know about Dope test in sports.

Dope test is an official test taken to determine whether an athlete who is taking part in a competition is taking performance enhancing drugs or illegal drugs to make their performance better.

Doping tests are a highly scrutinized process themselves.

Dope tests are usually conducted using body fluids such as urine, saliva, sweat and blood or solid specimen like hair and nail. However, the most common specimen used is urine.

Some of the drugs taken to enhance performance include;

• Strychnine
• Amphetamine
• Anabolic steroids
• And some performance enhancing agents and other stimulating hormones.

Dope test has been made a cornerstone of many athletic institution; IOC, WADA, THE IAAF, The international soccer body and many professional sports organisation.

All testing is done under the authority of a doping control officer.

The penalties for a positive doping violation are significant;

• Loss of awards
• Disqualifications
• Suspension from competition
• Team disqualification
• Loss of government support

Recently, Nigerian athlete, Blessing Okagbare in Delhi Commonwealth Olympics games could not pass dope test and her gold medal was taken from her, though she is not fully out of the game.