Sport Resolutions opens applications for its 2027–2030 Panel
Sport Resolutions is pleased to announce that applications are now open for its 2027–2030 Panel, with applications welcomed from suitably qualified professionals from around the world
Fri, November 13, 2026
New documentary, “Doping Top Secret: Children,” suggests millions of children and adolescents may have used performance enhancing drugs
German broadcaster, ARD, has announced its release of a six-part documentary, “Doping Top Secret: Children,” which details an investigation by journalist, Hajo Seppelt. The investigation suggests that millions of children and adolescents may have used prohibited substances within their sports. The documentary was released on 13 November on the ARD Mediathek.
Seppelt described the situation as “the darkest chapter in world sport,” identifying medals, financial opportunities and family expectations as reasons behind the significant number.
The documentary covers a six-year investigation across more than 50 countries and 25 sports. It explores evidence of coaches, doctors, officials and family members administering banned substances to minors, as reported by Inside the Games.
German sports website, Sportschau, estimated that between 195 and 260 million children aged 8-17 participate in competitive sport globally. Using a population of 200 million, researchers analysed 44 studies based on anonymous surveys conducted across 15 countries. They found that, on average, between 5 and 6 percent of respondents admitted to using performance enhancing substances. This potentially equates to 10 million minors. ARD excluded studies that included recreational drugs such as cannabis.
Seppelt voiced that if parents are not the ones involved, they may “not even know their children are being doped because those responsible have ordered children to keep quiet.”
Furthermore, the actual scale may be greater, as not all minors are likely to have admitted to using prohibited substances, and the surveys cannot identify cases in which substances were administered without the minors’ knowledge.
Paulo David, former secretary of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, stated that there is a “big, massive problem, and nothing is being done about it.”
ARD’s statement can be found here.
