In 1972 full scale drug testing began. By this time the use of stimulants, sedatives, hormones and steroids was so common that doctors and coaches were already coming up with masking agents to beat the tests and studying how close to competition an athlete could continue his or her drug program without risking a positive test result.

According to current regulations there are six classes of banned substances and two banned methods. The doping classes are:

1. Stimulants, including amphetamines, cocaine, ephedrine, fencan famine, mesocarbe, pemoline, phenylpropanolamine, strychine, and excessive amounts of caffeine.

2. Narcotic analgesics, including codeine, heroin, methadone and morphine.

3. Androgenic anabolic steroids, including cleributerol, methenolone, nandrolone, stanozolol, and excessive levels of testosterone.

4. Beta - blockers, including propranolol.

5. Diuretics, including furosemide.

6. Peptide hormones and analogues including corticotrophin (ACTH) and growth hormone (HGH, somatotrophin).

The prohibited methods are:

1. Blood doping, in which an athlete removes some of their blood, freezes it, and then, once their blood level has returned to normal, they re-inject it.

2. The catch all "pharmacological", chemical, and physical manipulation.

Most sports administer doping tests to at least the 3 medallists in each event. Drug testing is extremely reliable. Equipment is state of the art and the technicians are highly competent.