The Association of Surfing Professionals discussed with the WADA some questions related to steroid programs

Anabolic steroids are used by surfers too. Sport governing body claims that controlled drugs are an essential problem in this sport. That’s why the Association of Surfing Professionals decided to introduce testing for anabolic steroids and other forbidden drugs that are taken for increase of performance.
The Association of Surfing Professionals led some discussions with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They asked how they could introduce testing for banned medications into surfing. Since anti-doping program of the WADA is claimed to be the best policy, the surfing organization intends to introduce this protocol. Undoubtedly, this is the next victory of the WADA which contributes in the opportunity to control anti-doping programs in sports.
Everybody knows that surfing is a competitive sport. So, strength, speed and endurance are main skills which promote winning. So, surfers could decide that administration of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs induces success greatly. It is also important to take in consideration that amount of money that is received by winners is large. Winners receive no less than 100, 000 dollars. Desire to obtain money could lead surfers to decision to administrate anabolic steroids.
Nonetheless, it is said that usage of anabolic steroids and other products which have performance-enhancing effects is not widespread in surfing. Many people believe that intake of recreational drugs is more widespread among surfers than intake of steroids. Sport of 1970s and 1980s was oftan associated with marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Current facts support this impression. The number of surfers who are caught taking marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine is quite enhanced.
Andi Irons, a professional surfer, died in November 2010. The reason of his death was a heart attack caused by drug abuse. It was determined that steroids hadn’t been implicated in this case. Traces of methamphetamine, cocaine and methadone metabolites were found in his system.
Another surfer, Peter Davi, died in December 2007. Enhanced levels of meth were also found in his system.
As for Anthony Ruffo, another professional surfer, he was caught distributing meth.
Only Neco Padaratz, a professional surfer from Brazil, was caught using steroids. He was banned for one year. This person tested positive for prohibited products in 2004. This surfer claimed that he had taken these medicines to receive a full recovery from back injuries. In spite of his defense, he was banned. He was the first person that was caught administrating steroids by the Association of Surfing Professionals. According to many reports, he remains to be the only surfer who has ever been caught by the ASP.
The ASP has already the initial budget for introduction of the WADA anti-doping program into surfing.
However it is unlikely that steroids represent a problem in surfing, the new drug-testing program may create a wrong public impression.