DRUG USE AND ABUSE occurs in the sports world much as it does in the general population. Some athletes use drugs only under medical supervision and for a specific ailment or temporary condition. However, many athletes use drugs for more controversial reasons. Certain drugs can enhance an athlete's performance; others can temporarily provide thrills, escape from problems, or relief from stress.

Performance-enhancing drugs, especially those classified as steroids, have been banned from many sports. But despite bans, they are used by athletes in nearly every sport. "You show me a sport where increased power, endurance, or speed can possibly benefit the athlete, and I'll show you a sport where [steroid] use exists," says Dr. Robert Voy, chief medical officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) during the 1984 Olympics.

Drug use by athletes prompts many of...