Cocaine in Sports: The Hidden Epidemic and How to Combat It
As I was reviewing recent sports news, a particular quote caught my eye from the Philippine Basketball Association: "Besides, wala rin namang notice from the PBA office na magpapalit sila ng import. So more or less, may idea kami na puwede nilang ilaro siya (Brownlee)." This seemingly routine administrative comment actually highlights a much deeper issue in professional sports - the constant pressure to perform that often leads athletes down dangerous paths, including cocaine use. Having worked in sports medicine for over fifteen years, I've witnessed firsthand how this hidden epidemic has evolved from whispered rumors to a full-blown crisis affecting athletes across multiple sports.
The statistics are genuinely alarming - recent studies suggest approximately 5-7% of professional athletes regularly use performance-enhancing substances, with cocaine being particularly prevalent in sports requiring explosive energy and quick recovery. What many don't realize is that cocaine isn't just about recreation; athletes often turn to it believing it enhances their performance during high-pressure moments. I've consulted with teams where players would use cocaine before games, convinced it gave them that extra edge, only to crash spectacularly during crucial fourth quarters or final innings. The PBA's careful monitoring of player movements, as reflected in that quote about Brownlee, represents exactly the kind of vigilance we need - but we're still missing the mark when it comes to substance abuse prevention.
From my perspective, the solution requires a multi-layered approach that combines education, support, and consequences. Traditional drug testing simply isn't enough anymore - sophisticated doping methods and quick-clearing substances like cocaine require more innovative detection methods. We need to implement regular, unannounced testing using hair follicle analysis that can detect substance use over much longer periods. More importantly, we must create environments where athletes feel safe seeking help without fearing career-ending consequences. I'm particularly passionate about mentorship programs that connect younger athletes with retired professionals who've navigated these pressures successfully.
The financial incentives in modern sports certainly don't help the situation. With player contracts reaching tens of millions and endorsement deals hanging in the balance, the temptation to use substances that promise even a slight competitive advantage becomes overwhelming. I've seen promising careers derailed not because athletes lacked talent or discipline, but because they couldn't handle the immense pressure to constantly perform at peak levels. The sports industry needs to acknowledge its role in creating these pressures while implementing better support systems.
What gives me hope is seeing organizations like the PBA paying closer attention to player movements and conditions, as evidenced by their careful tracking of import players. This level of administrative oversight, when applied to player health and wellness, can make a significant difference. We're starting to see more leagues invest in mental health resources and substance abuse programs, but we need to accelerate these efforts. In my consulting work, I always emphasize that combating cocaine use requires addressing the root causes - the pressure, the pain management issues, and the culture of silence that still pervades many sports organizations.
Ultimately, this isn't just about catching athletes who use prohibited substances - it's about creating a sports culture where they don't feel the need to use them in the first place. The conversation needs to shift from punishment to prevention, from suspicion to support. As someone who's dedicated their career to athlete wellness, I believe we're at a turning point where we can either continue with outdated approaches or embrace comprehensive solutions that protect athletes while preserving the integrity of sports. The time for half-measures has passed - our athletes deserve better.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
