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
The Daily Show host joked that both Biden and Trump should be using performance-enhancing drugs.
—Peter White, Deadline, 8 July 2024
The Enhanced Games made a splashy debut in 2023, promising an annual event that allows competitors to use performance-enhancing drugs and features track and field, swimming, weightlifting and other sports.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 5 July 2024
Bolt earned a total of eight gold medals in his career (his ninth was rescinded after a relay teammate was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs) with a number of wins in the world championships.
—Matthew Acosta, Peoplemag, 1 July 2024
None of the riders in this article have been popped for using performance-enhancing drugs.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug 
Peter White, Deadline, 8 July 2024
The Enhanced Games made a splashy debut in 2023, promising an annual event that allows competitors to use performance-enhancing drugs and features track and field, swimming, weightlifting and other sports.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune, 5 July 2024
Bolt earned a total of eight gold medals in his career (his ninth was rescinded after a relay teammate was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs) with a number of wins in the world championships.
—Matthew Acosta, Peoplemag, 1 July 2024
None of the riders in this article have been popped for using performance-enhancing drugs.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'performance-enhancing drug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Performance-enhancing drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/performance-enhancing%20drug. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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