- Ben Johnson’s 1988 positive test led to the Dubin Inquiry and the drug-testing system Canada uses today.
- The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) runs the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, which follows the World Anti-Doping Code.
- A first anabolic steroid violation usually means a four-year ban, and steroids can be detected for months.
- Outside tested sport, possession for personal use isn’t an offence, but testing rules still apply to anyone in a tested program.
Canada has an unusual place in the history of steroids in sport. The most famous positive test of all time was a Canadian’s, and the inquiry that followed shaped anti-doping worldwide. This article explains how that happened, how testing works in Canada today, who gets tested, and what it means for everyday athletes and lifters.
1988: Ben Johnson and the Dubin Inquiry
In Seoul in September 1988, Ben Johnson won the Olympic 100 m in a world-record time and tested positive for stanozolol days later. Canada responded with the Commission of Inquiry into the Use of Drugs and Banned Practices Intended to Increase Athletic Performance, led by Ontario Chief Justice Charles Dubin. Its 1990 report documented widespread steroid use among Canadian athletes and coaches and recommended independent, year-round, unannounced testing. Canada’s modern anti-doping system grew out of those recommendations. Read more about the drug itself in our Winstrol guide.
How testing works today
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), an independent non-profit, runs the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). The program follows the World Anti-Doping Code, so the list of prohibited substances is the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list, updated every year.
- In-competition and out-of-competition testing, including unannounced tests at home or training
- Urine and blood samples, analysed at WADA-accredited labs
- Athlete Biological Passports that track markers over time
- Whereabouts requirements for top-level athletes
Who gets tested
- National team athletes and those in national sport organization programs
- University athletes competing in U Sports
- Athletes at Canada Games and other sanctioned competitions
- Members of tested federations, such as drug-free powerlifting and some physique federations
Professional leagues run their own drug policies under collective agreements.
Penalties
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, an anabolic steroid violation typically carries a four-year ban for a first offence, reduced only in limited circumstances. Bans can apply to coaching and other roles too, and results achieved during the period are stripped.
Detection times
Modern long-term metabolite testing can detect some steroids for months. Nandrolone, Turinabol and long-ester compounds are especially persistent. Stored samples can be re-tested for up to ten years, which is how dozens of 2008 and 2012 Olympians were later caught.
Supplements are a common route to accidental positives. Products sold as “legal steroids” or SARMs are sometimes contaminated or deliberately spiked. If you’re subject to testing, use only third-party certified supplements.
Tested vs untested sport
Outside tested programs, the CDSA applies: anabolic steroids are Schedule IV, possession for personal use isn’t an offence, and trafficking, importing and exporting without authorization are. Many strength and physique competitors choose untested federations for that reason. If you ever plan to compete in a tested federation, past use can still be detected, and some federations require a period of clean history.
Therapeutic use exemptions
Athletes with a medical need, such as diagnosed hypogonadism, can apply to the CCES for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) before using a prohibited substance. Approval requires medical documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs drug testing in Canada?
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), through the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, which follows the World Anti-Doping Code.
How long is a ban for steroids?
Typically four years for a first anabolic steroid violation under the World Anti-Doping Code.
Are university athletes tested in Canada?
Yes. U Sports athletes are subject to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program.
Can I get an exemption for prescribed testosterone?
Athletes with a diagnosed medical need can apply to the CCES for a therapeutic use exemption before using it.
This article is general information for adults in Canada, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any prescription drug, anabolic steroid or research compound, and get bloodwork done. If you’re in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline) any time.
