COC’D OUT SPORTS: The Prevalence And Regulation Of Cocaine In Sports
Cocaine is easily the most recognisable drug in our consciousness. Movies were rife with grim faced law enforcement officers identifying white powdery substances and applying to mouth before the acknowledging nod identifying the substance as cocaine. It is often portrayed in movies and pop culture as a shortcut to euphoria or a quick fix for performance woes. The reality however is that the drug has become synonymous to rampant addiction, dire health consequences, and a tangled web of criminal repercussions. The world of sports is unsurprisingly not left out from this reality.
Cocaine in Society: A Persistent Epidemic
Drug enforcement agencies worldwide continue their uphill struggle against cocaine abuse. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports a significant rise in its consumption across the world. Far from being a harmless “party drug,” cocaine fuels organized crime, derails countless lives with its addictive grip, and burdens public health systems.
In sports, the fight against cocaine takes on an additional layer of urgency. Under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, the substance is classed as a “Substance of Abuse,” recognizing that while it isn’t primarily used to enhance performance, its presence in an athlete’s bloodstream goes against the spirit of sport and damage the athlete’s own health and reputation in the process.
For a substance to be placed on the prohibited list, All prohibited substances are added to the Prohibited List because they meet two of the three following criteria:
- Use of the substance has the potential to enhance or enhances performance.
- Use of the substance represents an actual or potential health risk to the Athlete; and
- Use of the substance violates the spirit of sport.
Cocaine in Sports: From Locker Rooms to the Olympic Stage
With the increase in investment in sports, athletes today are even more burdened by physical and mental demands, which has sadly caused some to fall victim to illicit drugs. For some, cocaine’s energizing high and brief burst of confidence may seem tempting. But the drug’s short-lived buzz is eclipsed by severe aftereffects: addiction, mood swings, cardiovascular damage, and a harrowing physical and mental crash.
These aren’t theoretical risks. Football legend Diego Maradona famously wrestled with cocaine addiction, culminating in a 15-month suspension in 1991.
DIEGO MARADONA
In the United States, talents such as NFL player Josh Gordon and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Irvin faced their own battles with the drug.
More recently, Australian hockey player Tom Craig was apprehended while attempting to purchase cocaine during the Paris 2024 Olympics. His eviction from the athletes’ village and subsequent 12-month ban not only cut short his personal Olympic ambitions but also left his team at a disadvantage on the biggest stage in sport as they couldn’t improve on their silver medal at the previous Olympics and crashed out in the quarter-finals.
CRAIG had to face journalists after getting away with a slap on the wrist from a Paris Court and later said that he regretted his actions.
How Is Cocaine Regulated in Sports?
As has been shown earlier, athletes abuse cocaine for the same reasons as most other people and not usually for performance enhancing benefits. This prompted a change in regulations.
Previously, athletes caught with cocaine in their system were handed four-year bans, just like those sanctioned for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
MUTU was the first signing of the Abramovic era.
Adrian Mutu who was signed by Chelsea for £15.2m in 2003 as the first marquee signing of the Abramovic era. He tested positive for cocaine and was subsequently banned for seven (7) months. He had his contract terminated by Chelsea, and FIFA eventually decided that Mutu himself refund Chelsea the transfer fee. This was the highest monetary award against a player in a dispute which has continued to this day. Responding to questions from journalists, Mutu said; “The only reason I took what I took was because I wanted to improve my sexual performance”.
In another case involving tennis player Richard Gasquet, he blamed his positive test on kissing a model in a one-night stand and interestingly was not sanctioned.
It appeared to have become clear to WADA that cocaine was used for recreational purposes and lengthy bans did not help the athletes as it only made them slump deeper into addiction. It was no surprise then that in 2021, WADA updated its stance.
Cocaine, now categorized as a “Substance of Abuse,” may incur reduced penalties if an athlete can demonstrate use occurred outside competition and that the use was unrelated to sporting performance. Under these new regulations, completing a recognized rehabilitation program can slash the typical four-year ban to as little as one month. Other substances in this category are heroin and THC.
In the eyes of anti-doping agencies, timing is critical. Cocaine remains strictly prohibited during in-competition windows, which begin at 11:59 p.m. the night before an event and end only when the competition and associated testing are concluded. Even if an athlete uses cocaine recreationally outside these hours, trace amounts in the body can trigger a positive test at the worst possible moment.
This shift represents a growing emphasis on rehabilitation instead of strict punishment. Nevertheless, it’s a contentious change. Opponents argue that leniency may encourage athletes to claim recreational use to skirt harsher penalties. Advocates counter that tackling addiction and mental health challenges head-on is more humane and effective than imposing a blanket ban.
The Debate Over Cocaine Sanctions
Modern anti-doping policy attempts to walk a fine line between compassion and deterrence. Cocaine’s addictive nature and grave health risks raise tough questions: Should it be dealt with more leniently than other banned substances? Or does a “softer” approach invite exploitation?
Athletes such as Sha’Carri Richardson, who lost her chance at the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive cannabis test, underscore the inconsistencies. Cocaine penalties are being eased at the same time that other substances—legal in certain jurisdictions—can still shatter athletic dreams. The disparity highlights a complex reality: anti-doping bodies must juggle cultural norms, legal variances, and athletes’ welfare, all while ensuring fair play.
The Future of Cocaine Regulation in Sports
As anti-doping agencies continue to refine their policies, cocaine will remain squarely in the spotlight. The core message, however, remains unchanged: cocaine jeopardizes everything from an athlete’s health and career to the fundamental principle of fair competition. Even with reduced sanctions for out-of-competition use, a positive test can mean bans, endorsement losses, and an irreparably damaged reputation.
Tom Craig’s story alone should give any athlete pause—one lapse in judgment cost him not just an Olympic dream but also the trust of his team and fans. As sports organizations search for the best balance between discipline and empathy, the safest path for athletes is crystal clear: avoid cocaine altogether. Ultimately, all eyes remain fixed on the goal of keeping sport pure—both for the sake of the athletes themselves and the integrity of every competition in which they strive for excellence.
On a final note, recent events have shown that athletes are not the only individuals plagued by drug abuse in the world of sports. Recently, disgraced and now sacked premier league referee David Coote was caught on video snorting a line of cocaine while on duty at the last Euros. He has since come out to discuss his struggles with drug use as well as the pressure of being a referee but that did not change the fact that he has lost his career.
DISGRACED PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREE DAVID COOTE HAS OPENED UP ABOUT HIS STRUGGLE WITH DRUGS.
