The use of performance enhancing drugs in sports has a long history dating back to the late 19th century. Anabolic steroids were first developed in the 1930s in Germany and were tested on prisoners and soldiers to increase aggression. In the 1950s, the USSR began dominating weightlifting and it was alleged that Soviet doctors administered testosterone injections. Widespread drug testing of athletes began in the 1970s after several deaths were attributed to stimulant use. Through the 1980s and 90s, as tests improved, many high-profile athletes were stripped of titles and banned after testing positive for steroids and other banned substances like EPO. In the 21st century, all major sports leagues and international governing bodies have strengthened drug

1. Timeline of Performance Enhancing Drugs<br />By,<br />Karlee Ferris<br />1889 French physician Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard, claims to feel younger form extracting testicular fluid from dogs and guinea pigs and injecting it into himself and announces it at a scientific meeting in Paris.1904 St. Louis Olympics marathon winner Thomas Hicks (USA) is given strychnine and brandy during the race.<br />1890<br />1900<br />1910<br />1920<br />1930<br />1935 German scientists, develop anabolic steroids as a way to treat hypogonadism -- testosterone deficiency.<br />19401940-1945 Nazis test anabolic steroids on prisoners, Gestapos and Hitler himself. Testosterone is used on soldiers to create aggression.<br />1945-1947 To help reverse wasting effect of WWII and concentration camp imprisonment anabolic steroids are used.<br />1950<br />1954 The U.S.S.R. begins to dominate the sport of power lifting, a Soviet team doctor allegedly tells of his team's use of testosterone injections to U.S. weightlifting doctor.<br />1958 Anabolic steroid -- methandrostenolone -- is released by Ciba Pharmaceuticals under the name Dianabol.<br />1960<br />1960 Danish cyclist Knud Enemark Jensen crashes during the road race at the Rome Olympics after taking a stimulant. He dies from a fractured skull.<br />1960 Sports Illustrated publishes an article revealing the use of amphetamines (\"
pep pills\"
), tranquilizers, cocaine and other drugs in elite sports.<br />1967 A British cyclist’s death from amphetamines spurs the Tour de France to institute doping controls.<br />1969 Sports Illustrated makes an investigation about performance-enhancing drugs in sports. Sources predict that the use of such drugs will eventually explode into an epidemic.<br />1970<br />1972 The International Olympic Committee begins full-scale drug testing at the Olympics<br />1976 The International Olympic Committee adds anabolic steroids to its banned list.<br />1976 The Olympic athletes are tested for the first time for anabolic steroids at the Montreal Olympics.<br />19801983 The gene for human erythropoietin (EPO) is cloned.<br />1983 The governing body of the Pan Am Games in Caracas strips 2medals from athletes for testing positive for anabolic steroids.<br />1985 HGH, a synthetic human growth hormone, is produced.<br />1988 Sprinter Ben Johnson tests positive for an anabolic steroid after winning the 100 meters in a world-record time. He is stripped of his medal, banned for two years and had is time deleted for testing positive.<br />19901990 The National Football League institutes a year-round, random steroid testing program.<br />1990 The Anabolic Steroids Control Act is introduced by Congress. It classifies steroids as a schedule III controlled substance, for which trafficking is now a felony.<br />1991 Twenty former East German coaches admit to administering anabolic steroids to some of their swimmers.<br />1993 The Association of Tennis Professionals, the Women's Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation create an anti-doping program.<br />1998 Vials of EPO are discovered in a French Festina team car at the Tour de France. Several riders and team support crew are charged with doping. They were suspended.<br />1998 St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire admits using androstenedione.<br />1999 The NBA adds steroids to its list of banned substances<br />1999 The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), an independent agency, is formed through the IOC.<br />20002000 Urinalysis tests are improved to detect EPO, but blood doping undetectable. EPO testing is implemented in Sydney Olympics<br />2000 The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) begins operations<br />2002 MLB does not have a testing for steroids but if more than 5% of results from the anonymous tests are positive they will start formal testing and penalties the following year<br />2003-2004 Government agents raid the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO). And several athletes get subpoenaed for testing.<br />2003 The International Olympic Committee adds THG to its list of banned substances.<br />2004 MLB begins mandatory steroid testing for players.<br />2004 A record 24 athletes are ousted for drug-related violations at the Athens Olympics.<br />2005 MLB cracks down on drug testing and Major leaguers — including Canseco, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa — testify before a congressional committee investigating steroid use.<br />2005 The NHL establishes a drug-testing policy for performance-enhancing substances.<br />2006 Tour de France winner, U.S. cyclist Floyd Landis tests positive for an illegal testosterone ratio.<br />2007 The NFL and its players union announced changes to toughen its steroid policy<br />2007 International Olympic Committee strips 5 medals from athlete for testing positive.<br />