During the study, the scientists questioned 3,500 eleven-year olds entering their first year of secondary school in eastern France in November 2001 about their use of drugs banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency International Standard.

More than one per cent of eleven year olds admit using performance enhancing drugs. The scientists concluded that the drug most commonly used to improve sporting prowess was salbutamol, which was taken by 45% of users.

Other stimulants and anabolic agents were used by 38% of the study’s subject and corticosteroids were taken by 10%.

‘Young athletes who are tempted to use doing agents are more likely to be boys, invest much more time in training, are ready users of psychoactive substances, and, importantly, they appear to be in some distress.
Furthermore at least six months previously, they have said that they had been tempted to try a prohibited drug. Adults responsible for young people should be alerted by these signs.’, the authors concluded.