The signs of doping and how to report
Doping is cheating. Reporting your suspicions is always the right thing to do. If you've seen or heard something regarding doping in sport, you can report your concerns without them knowing it was you. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can text or WhatsApp UKAD’s Investigators in complete confidence on 07822 023233. Visit UKAD's Protect Your Sport page to report doping.
This page highlights the common signs of doping and how to report the information to UKAD, including what we will do next.
- Significant or unusual changes in physique or sporting performance
- Acting out of character such as avoiding people or hiding property, odd disappearances, feigning injury or over-hydrating
- Deliberately losing or dropping out
- Last minute changes in travel plans
- Mood swings, aggression, and volatility
- Secretive around their training routine, nutrition or other aspects of life
- Isolating from teammates
- Unexplained increase in health issues
- Acting out of character, encouraging secrecy or hiding property
- Putting pressure on athletes to perform
- Treating certain athletes more favourably
- Unusual training methods, advice or medical treatments
- Ignoring guidelines, rules, regulations and policy
- Falsifying records or providing misleading information
- Influencing athletes to behave or perform contrary to the norm
Anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances that mimic testosterone, known to increase strength and muscle mass. Steroids are naturally made by our bodies in small quantities, but they are banned in sport when added to the body exogenously (from sources outside the body).
Learn more about our research on the side-effects of steroids.
The importance of speaking up
UKAD's Protect Your Sport is designed to be a safe space for you to raise your concerns in confidence or anonymously if you prefer, so that we can investigate potential wrongdoing.
What information should you report and how?
Any concerns you have about doping in sport should be reported. No matter how small the information may seem, it could be the missing link. You do not need proof to back up your report. We received 211 reports last year (2024), and your information may help confirm similar concerns raised by others.
What will UKAD do next with my report?
Whatever you tell us will be handled strictly confidentially. We will always act on the information you share with us.
Talk to UKAD anonymously
You can share your suspicions anonymously via WhatsApp or SMS. We will be able to respond to your messages without seeing your name or number. We will only respond if we feel there is further information we may need to help us in our investigation. Once you've made the report it’s our job to act appropriately and effectively to safeguard the integrity of your sport.
Act now. We can't do it alone.
Ready to report? Visit Protect Your Sport to share your information with us on either WhatsApp, SMS, email, online or hotline.