The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) announced that the 2010 Cologne Gay Games VIII will implement testing for anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs in all sporting events. The testing at the 2010 Cologne Gay Games will be based on the stingent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) doping protocols. The 2006 Chicago Gay Games introduced drug testing to athletes in powerlifting, bodybuilding and wrestling for the first time.

Steroid testing at the Gay Games highlights the problem of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) that allow the use of banned substances for legitimate medical indications; anabolic-androgenic steroids are routinely used in HIV patients. The WADA protocols allow for TUEs but do not address the acceptability of exemptions for the use of anabolic steroids for HIV. The Federation of Gay Games hopes to redefine and improve the WADA protocols by encouraging “mainstream sports become not just more accepting of gay athletes, but more accommodating of athletes with chronic medical concerns - especially HIV

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