performance-enhancing drug
noun
: a substance (such as an anabolic steroid, human growth hormone, or erythropoietin) that is used illicitly to improve athletic performance
In the United States, more than 1 million elite and recreational athletes use performance-enhancing drugs for muscle building purposes.—
Josiah D. Rich et al.
Josiah D. Rich et al.…33 of the 48 major and minor league players suspended by baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs since the start of 2006 were pitchers.—Sean Gregory
Sean GregoryRoger Bannister, the first person to run a subpar four-minute mile, said today he thought that increased use of blood testing could help curb the use of performance-enhancing drugs by track and field athletes.—The New York Times
—abbreviation PED
The New York TimesExamples of performance-enhancing drug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lance Armstrong won seven titles but was stripped of them in 2012 after admitting using performance-enhancing drugs.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 27 July 2025
The Phillies bullpen has the eighth worst ERA in the majors and will be without Jose Alvarado for the playoffs after a performance-enhancing drug suspension.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
Further afield, the use of performance-enhancing drugs is rare but not without precedent.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Experts say that the use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids, as well as better analytics and player training, all likely contribute to the increase, too.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
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Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 27 July 2025
The Phillies bullpen has the eighth worst ERA in the majors and will be without Jose Alvarado for the playoffs after a performance-enhancing drug suspension.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
Further afield, the use of performance-enhancing drugs is rare but not without precedent.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Experts say that the use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids, as well as better analytics and player training, all likely contribute to the increase, too.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
Cite this Entry
“Performance-enhancing drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/performance-enhancing%20drug. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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