The article presents a literature review on the problem of the use of narcotic analgesics as pharmacological doping by athletes. To date, medical universities have introduced a new general professional competence in the educational program of the academic discipline «Pharmacology» – the ability to counteract the use of doping in sports and the fight against it, which is necessary in their future professional activities. This competence aims to improve the level of anti-doping education of medical students. The article focuses on the pharmacological analysis of the list of illicit drugs on the basis of regulatory documentation, which contributes to the formation of the legal culture of students on the issue of illicit trafficking in doping drugs. The review focuses on the motives for the use of narcotic analgesics by athletes as doping in accordance with the mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics. Side effects of the use of narcotic analgesics have been noted. The information obtained is necessary for students to form anti-doping knowledge, which will contribute to the conduct of sanitary and educational work.

Keywords: morphine, doping, sports, narcotic analgesics, drugs