Overview
Doping refers to the use of prohibited substances or methods to illegally enhance athletic performance. In professional baseball, concerns center on anabolic steroids for muscle building, erythropoietin (EPO) for endurance, and amphetamines for focus. MLB faced a massive steroid scandal in the 2000s, with the records of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire clouded by doping allegations. In response, MLB established a rigorous testing regime. NPB's anti-doping rules follow the World Anti-Doping Code, and testing comes in two forms: in-competition tests during the season and out-of-competition tests in the off-season. For in-competition testing the club is notified no later than 60 minutes before the first pitch that the game has been designated for testing, and the players to be tested are drawn by lot at the end of the fifth inning. Only out-of-competition testing arrives without advance notice, with the NPB Anti-Doping Committee choosing the players at its own discretion. A sample may be urine only, blood only, or both, and refusing a test is treated the same as a positive result. NPB also publishes the sanctions it imposes for violations of those regulations, with notices dating back to August 2007 posted on its official site. However, new substances and methods designed to evade detection are constantly being developed, necessitating continuous strengthening of monitoring systems. Doping not only undermines competitive fairness but also poses serious long-term health risks to athletes, making education and prevention the most critical countermeasures.