[Science_Junior (OP)]

I was wondering, how technology is used in 'catching' cheating athletes that for example, boost their performance by consuming steroids and other unauthorised products. I heard that they go for a urine test but I'm not sure how its carried out. Can someone please help with the topic? Thank you. []

[CliffordK]

Many drugs will show up in urine.
Or..  in hair and fingernails/toenails if one is looking for longer records.

Your athletic association should have a published list of drugs that they are testing for, but you should be forewarned that they can change he drugs at any time.

Professional sports and associated advertising is a multi-million dollar business FOR EACH ATHLETE.  The athletes, and/or their trainers, will look for any edge they can get.

There are both natural and synthetic steroids, however, the synthetic ones are better targeted to the desired receptors... and thus those are chosen. 

Some natural steroids such as testosterone may be monitored for spikes on successive days of a multi-day event.

EPO (erythropoietin) is now being tested for.

However, HIGH ALTITUDE TRAINING IS STILL LEGAL. 

But autologous blood donations are NOT LEGAL.  They might be hard to detect, except by looking for things like a hematocrit outside of the "normal" range.

Sorry, I don't know the specific tests.  Most of them test for specific drugs, although some may test for certain drug activity.

Energy Drinks, Performance Supplements, Topical Creams, etc...  are also big business.  Athletes should check, and be aware of what they are taking.  If there is anything that seems suspicious, then just don't do it.

[Geezer]

However, HIGH ALTITUDE TRAINING IS STILL LEGAL. 

Why shouldn't it be? Are you saying Ethiopian athletes should only be allowed to train at sea-level?

[CliffordK]

However, HIGH ALTITUDE TRAINING IS STILL LEGAL. 

Why shouldn't it be? Are you saying Ethiopian athletes should only be allowed to train at sea-level?

Nope..
You could volunteer to work with the Tibetan Sherpas.

In a sense, an autologous blood donation is like high altitude training in a bottle...  without all the hard work.  The effects may be similar...  one is legal, the other isn't.

[CliffordK]

Here is an NCAA list of banned drugs and practices.
However, they apparently purposefully leave it open-ended.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Student-Athlete+Experience/NCAA+banned+drugs+list

Here is an interesting, and controversial practice called Abortion Doping. 

There is no end to people's ingenuity to bend the rules!!!

[CliffordK]

There is an American 100% organic delicacy called Rocky Mountain Oysters, often served in bars

Is there any rule against having a good high protein meal of Rocky Mountain Oysters prior to an event?  They are apparently even sold at baseball games in Colorado!!!

[Science_Junior (OP)]

Many drugs will show up in urine.
Or..  in hair and fingernails/toenails if one is looking for longer records.

Thanks for the response CliffordK, do you have any recommendations for further reading on this?

[CliffordK]

Many drugs will show up in urine.
Or..  in hair and fingernails/toenails if one is looking for longer records.

Thanks for the response CliffordK, do you have any recommendations for further reading on this?

It depends on what your exact interest is. 
I have the NCAA list of drugs (categories) above.

It should be easy enough to do a web search if you choose a single drug such as a specific anabolic steroid, and you can determine the tests that are used to detect it.

Some businesses use hair samples for "street drugs".

Urine tests can be qualitative (yes/no) or quantitative by comparing to naturally occurring urine products.