The literature concerning the relationship between sporting activities and drug use has been rapidly expanding but there is little consensus among research findings. Some studies found that participation in sporting activities increased the risk of adolescent drug use, while other studies found that, at least in part, sporting activities were a protective factor against drug use. To further test this relationship, the authors collected self-administered questionnaire data from a sample of 458 elite student athletes (ESAs) aged 16 to 24 years who were recruited at 40 public centers in Southeastern France. The participants represented athletes from 30 different sports. Data concerning their self-reported drug use, their sporting activity, and other aspects of their lifestyle were compared to the same data gathered from a sample of the general population of adolescents in Southeastern France. The data from the control group were extracted from two national surveys that focused on drug use and utilized similar methodology to the current study. Results of statistical analyses revealed that the prevalence of alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis use was significantly lower among the ESAs than the comparison group of other adolescents. However, the specific relationship between the two variables differed a bit by type of sporting activity. In comparison to an individual sport, participation in a team activity correlated with alcohol use, while participation in a sliding event correlated with cannabis and alcohol use. Moreover, girls who entered international competition were more likely to use cigarettes and cannabis. Future research should focus on understanding the athletes’ motives for use. Tables, references