# doping

/dˈəʊpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doping
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. sports drugs

noun · CEFR B2

the use of illegal drugs to improve how an athlete performs in a competition.

For teachers: the use of prohibited performance-enhancing drugs or methods to gain an unfair advantage in competitive sports.

- The cyclist was banned for life after a major doping scandal was uncovered.
- The international committee implemented more rigorous testing protocols to combat the systemic doping that had tarnished the sport's reputation.

### 2. electronics/science

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

adding a tiny amount of a substance to a material, like a computer chip, to change its electrical properties.

For teachers: the intentional introduction of impurities into an extremely pure semiconductor to modify its electrical properties.

- Doping the silicon with phosphorus allows the chip to conduct electricity better.
- Precise control over the doping process is essential for manufacturing the high-speed transistors used in modern processors.

### 3. giving drugs

verb · CEFR B2

giving a person or animal a drug to make them perform better or to make them sleep.

For teachers: administering a drug to a participant in a race or to a patient, often for performance enhancement or sedation.

- The trainer was accused of doping the horses before the big race.
- Investigators found evidence that the coach had been doping his athletes for years without their knowledge.

Usage: Often used in the continuous form 'doping' or as a transitive verb.

## Examples

- The athlete failed the doping test.
- Strict anti-doping rules ensure fair competition in professional sports.
- The scandal revealed how widespread doping had become, forcing the federation to rewrite its testing protocols.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.