Mon, June 23, 2025
Anabolic agents were most sanctioned in 2024-25
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has published its latest testing report for the period April 2024 – March 2025 which highlights that anabolic agents were the most sanctioned substances. These drugs are structurally related to the main male sex hormone, testosterone. People often misuse anabolic agents to build lean muscle mass.
UKAD reported that 50% of analytical Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) contained anabolic agents – typically steroids or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs). UKAD published seventeen ADRVs across the year.
This means that the trend has continued, as in the previous year, anabolic agents were UKAD’s most sanctioned for substance category as well. 10 out of 22 analytical ADRVs in 2023-24 concerned anabolic agents.
UKAD administered 8,678 tests between April 2024 – March 2025 which is an increase from the previous year. Its testing programme covers over 50 sports.
Between 1 January - 31 March 2025, 1,855 tests were attempted on behalf of 35 National Governing Bodies. The report shows that football (843 tests), athletics (160 tests), professional boxing (106 tests), rugby union (151 tests) and rugby league (126 tests) continue to be the most tested sports in the UK.
UKAD’s Director of Operations, Hamish Coffey, expressed: “Testing of athletes, working closely with international anti-doping partners, is essential to deter and detect doping in sport. UKAD has delivered another comprehensive intelligence-led testing programme on elite athletes across 2024-25, targeting the areas of sport with the greatest risks associated with doping…
Anabolic agents are known to increase muscle mass, which is a huge reason why some young people choose to use them. There’s no place for them in sport. Athletes caught using them jeopardise their careers and damage the integrity of their sports. Steroids and other anabolic agents are dangerous and carry serious health risks, as highlighted in UKAD’s recent video.”
UKAD’s full statement can be found here.
