BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Inaugural lecture prof.dr. W. de Ronde METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260313T154500 DTEND:20260313T171500 DTSTAMP:20260313T154500 UID:2026/inaugural-lecture-prof-dr@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260413T044154 LOCATION:Hoofdgebouw, Aula De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:Inaugural lecture prof.dr. W. de Ronde X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Doping in de sportschoo l; van moralisme naar pragmatisme

Doping in the gym: time for a new approach

Doping use is no longer limited to elite athle tes: young male amateur athletes, in particular, use anabolic steroid s to achieve an increasingly muscular ideal, strongly influenced by s ocial media and fitness culture. These substances demonstrably increa se muscle mass and strength, but also pose health risks, such as hear t problems, hormonal damage, and reduced fertility. This is what Prof essor of Doping and Health Pim de Ronde stated in his inaugural lectu re.

At the same time, reliable information is lacking, and many healthcare providers are insufficiently equipped to recognize or tre at harm, partly due to stigma and a traditional zero-tolerance policy . Research shows that a harm-reduction approach, with honest informat ion and risk mitigation, does not encourage use but can actually redu ce it. Instead of simply prohibiting and condemning, a pragmatic, sci entifically based approach is needed that acknowledges the reality: d oping does happen. More knowledge, openness, and guidance can limit h ealth risks.

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Doping in the gym: time for a new approach

Dopin g use is no longer limited to elite athletes: young male amateur athl etes, in particular, use anabolic steroids to achieve an increasingly muscular ideal, strongly influenced by social media and fitness cult ure. These substances demonstrably increase muscle mass and strength, but also pose health risks, such as heart problems, hormonal damage, and reduced fertility. This is what Professor of Doping and Health P im de Ronde stated in his inaugural lecture. At the same time, reliab le information is lacking, and many healthcare providers are insuffic iently equipped to recognize or treat harm, partly due to stigma and a traditional zero-tolerance policy. Research shows that a harm-reduc tion approach, with honest information and risk mitigation, does not encourage use but can actually reduce it. Instead of simply prohibiti ng and condemning, a pragmatic, scientifically based approach is need ed that acknowledges the reality: doping does happen. More knowledge, openness, and guidance can limit health risks. Doping in de sportsch ool; van moralisme naar pragmatisme END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR