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.

…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

Roger 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

Examples of performance-enhancing drug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

That same year, he was suspended for 50 games for using performance-enhancing drugs. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 14 July 2025

The story of performance-enhancing drugs in sports is a cautionary tale about the human desire for an edge and the integrity of competition. —Nate Bennett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Lillis goes to great lengths to explain the confusing and complicated array of medicines and performance-enhancing drugs – legal and otherwise – administered to the horses. —Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 9 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for performance-enhancing drug

• antidrug
• mealybug
• multidrug
• chug
• doug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug