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 49ers will be without practice squad tackle Isaac Alarcon for the first six games of the 2025 season after he was suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, the league announced Wednesday.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
In 2019, the NFL suspended him six games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The responses were creative and diverse: AI was said to be a spaceship, a mirror, a performance-enhancing drug, a self-driving car, makeup, a bridge or fast food.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2025
When evaluating and projecting player performance, MLB teams for many years have tried to account for whether a player has or will use performance-enhancing drugs.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for performance-enhancing drug
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Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
In 2019, the NFL suspended him six games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
The responses were creative and diverse: AI was said to be a spaceship, a mirror, a performance-enhancing drug, a self-driving car, makeup, a bridge or fast food.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2025
When evaluating and projecting player performance, MLB teams for many years have tried to account for whether a player has or will use performance-enhancing drugs.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 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 28 Apr. 2025.
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