Pharmacological Interventions in the Management of Sports Injuries: A Review of Clinical Use, Dosage Forms, and Anti-Doping Considerations.

BACKGROUND

Sports injuries are common among active adults and frequently require pharmacological interventions to control pain, reduce inflammation, and support functional recovery. Clear understanding of drug use patterns in clinical trials and their alignment with anti-doping regulations is essential for safe and ethical sports medicine practice.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and characterize pharmacological interventions investigated in clinical trials for sports injuries in adults, focusing on drug class, dosage form, route of administration, and World Anti-Doping Agency classification.

METHODS

A retrospective registry-based analysis was conducted using ClinicalTrials.gov on 13 March 2025. Trials registered under the condition Sport Injury and involving adults aged 18 to 64 years were included, obtaining 426 studies. Pharmacological agents explicitly listed in the Interventions field were extracted and classified by therapeutic category, dosage form, route of administration, and World Anti-Doping Agency status according to the 2024 Prohibited List.

RESULTS

Twenty pharmacological agents were identified across multiple therapeutic classes, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, local anesthetics, biological therapies, and nutritional supplements. Oral, injectable, and topical formulations were most commonly reported. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and local anesthetics represented the predominant drug classes. Most identified agents were permitted under World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when used via appropriate routes, whereas systemic corticosteroids were restricted during competition.

CONCLUSION

Clinical trials evaluating pharmacological management of sports injuries predominantly focus on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and local anesthetics, reflecting current clinical practice. The findings highlight the importance of route-specific prescribing and regulatory awareness to ensure anti-doping-compliant pharmacotherapy in athletic populations.