Sports Pharmacy: New Specialty of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Care Services

ABSTRACT

The World Anti-Doping Agency has made efforts to promote the safe use of medications and prevent doping in sports globally. International standards have been established and experts have advocate anti-doping education to athletes and healthcare professionals. Pharmacists are expected to participate in the pharmaceutical care activity of sports medicine in protecting the athletes while providing the spirits of clean sports. In this review, we described the pharmacists’ roles and functions in six areas of sports pharmaceutical care: awareness, treatment, prevention, optimization, abuse, and monitoring. Sports pharmacists should be able to prevent inappropriate drug use and manage athletes’ illness and injury using pharmacotherapy. Further pharmacists should actively involve to educate and counsel athletes, trainers, and healthcare teams. In conclusion, pharmacists are expected to play important roles in sports pharmacy, which is the emerging area of specialized pharmaceutical care services.