Objectives Glucocorticoids are commonly prescribed in medicine. When administered via certain routes, glucocorticoids are prohibited for incompetition use by WADA. The glucocorticoid prescribing habits of sports medicine doctors have not been reported. Methods An online survey was distributed internationally to physicians working in high-performance sports. The survey queried the doctors about their use of glucocorticoids with athletes and their understanding of WADA’s regulations regarding glucocorticoid use in competition. Results 603 sports medicine doctors from 30 different countries participated. The majority (>85%) routinely injected glucocorticoids and/or prescribed glucocorticoids by other routes. There were substantial differences in the common routes of injection as well as types of glucocorticoid used among the physicians from various countries. A relatively small percentage of sports doctors (<25%) accurately identified which routes of glucocorticoid administration are prohibited in competition by WADA. There was a great variation in how long before competition the use of glucocorticoids would cause the doctor to consider applying for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE). A better understanding of the clearance rates of glucocorticoids from athletes’ bodies would greatly aid sports medicine doctors’ decisions on how and when to apply for a TUE. A small number of doctors had observed side effects of glucocorticoid administration, with the majority of side effects being minor in nature. Conclusion Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed by sports physicians. There is a need to better educate sports physicians on the current WADA regulations in relation to glucocorticoid administration.

中文翻译：

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从事高水平运动的运动医学医师的糖皮质激素处方习惯：30 个国家的调查

目的 糖皮质激素通常用于医学处方。当通过某些途径给药时，WADA 禁止将糖皮质激素用于非竞赛用途。运动医学医生的糖皮质激素处方习惯尚未见报道。方法 一项在线调查在国际范围内分发给从事高性能运动的医生。该调查询问了医生们对运动员使用糖皮质激素的情况，以及他们对 WADA 关于比赛中使用糖皮质激素的规定的理解。结果 来自 30 个不同国家的 603 名运动医学医生参加了比赛。大多数（> 85%）通过其他途径常规注射糖皮质激素和/或处方糖皮质激素。不同国家的医生在常用的注射途径和使用的糖皮质激素类型上存在很大差异。相对较小比例的运动医生 (<25%) 准确地确定了 WADA 禁止在比赛中使用哪些糖皮质激素给药途径。在比赛前多久使用糖皮质激素会导致医生考虑申请治疗用途豁免 (TUE) 方面存在很大差异。更好地了解运动员体内糖皮质激素的清除率将极大地帮助运动医学医生决定如何以及何时申请 TUE。少数医生观察到糖皮质激素给药的副作用，大多数副作用本质上是轻微的。结论糖皮质激素被运动医师广泛使用。需要更好地对运动医生进行有关糖皮质激素管理的当前 WADA 规定的教育。