Effects of new anti-doping measures on sports performance in elite female athletes.

Studies examining the effects of new anti-doping measures on sports performance in elite athletes are scarce. During the last decade a number of new antidoping methods for detection of anabolic androgenic steroids were developed. We hypothesized that the implementation of these methods may cause a decrease of performance in athletic disciplines where given subtances are widely used. For this purpose the performance results for 10 athletic disciplines from country (Country A), that was widely accused of systematic doping use, were gathered and pooled into 2012-2015 and 2016-2019 periods. These periods were seen as before and following the implementation periods, where the effects of new antidoping methods could be manifested. Also the performance results of their rival athletes from Country B were analysed for comparison. The incidence of antidoping rules violations for both countries were followed. The analysis revealed a decrease in performance results of Country A athletes in 8 of 10 disciplines. The performance results of Country B's athletes in 7 of 10 disciplines did not and in 3 disciplines did demonstrate statistically significant change. The decrease in performance of Country A athletes followed a high incidence of steroids detection cases by means of new antidoping methods. It is highly likely that cosenquent performance decrease is due to implementation of new antidoping methods. The results of the study brings new facts on effects of new antidoping methods implementation and demonstrate following decrease in performance results in population of athletes from the country widely accused of doping use.