Prevalence of Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) among athletes in Kuwait (2022-2023): results from the Kuwait antidoping program.

Background Doping, or the use of prohibited substances, poses a significant challenge to the sports field, leading to violations of the principle of fair competition. The study aims to investigate the prevalence of prohibited substances and methods among athletes, identify the prohibited substances and their classifications used, and provide future recommendations for enhancing optimal sports performance. Method A cross-sectional study utilized data extracted from the WADA Anti-Doping ADAMS platform. All samples collected pertain to athletes registered with various national sports clubs and federations in Kuwait from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. Result Out of 667 samples, 3.4% of the total samples exhibited AAFs violation, whereas 96.5% yielded NR for doping. Most of the athletes in both groups are young adults aged 16 years to less than 30 years old, male, and Kuwaiti. There is no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of AAF samples according to demographic characteristics, sport category, or disciplines. (p values > 0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, the prevalence of prohibited substance usage among athletes in Kuwait highlights a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. The results underscore the need for enhanced awareness and improved antidoping programs to combat this challenge.