Therapeutic Research

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the attitudes of athletes in their teens toward anti –doping, and identify recent problems in relation to education for drug prevention. The subjects were 468 male and 254 female junior high school students who had competed at national judo meets. A survey was conducted, and the students were asked whether or not they had received anti –doping education as well as their opinions on drug violations. The results of the survey suggest that these promising judo athletes had few opportunities to increase their awareness of anti –doping and receive education for it, and that a few students would consider using banned substances to significantly enhance their performance. It is necessary to initiate early anti –doping education in as many settings as possible in order to train competitive athletes with a healthy mind and body, and trainers and other people in charge of training them have a responsibility to promote such anti –doping education.