Current Challenges and Next Steps to Improve Anti-Doping For Peer Review Only Policy in Olympic Track and Field (original) (raw)

Achieving the Olympic ideal: Preventing doping in sport

In the 1960s, prohibitionist 'anti-doping' policy was introduced to curtail the use of illicit performance enhancing substances and methods in sport. Since then, anti-doping attention and funding has been directed towards detection-based deterrence activities. However, it is now acknowledged that investment in long-term, values-based education programmes may be more appropriate. Unfortunately, research into prevention and education is in its infancy, with very little indication of best practice. Therefore, in the interim, we must draw from more developed social science research fields. The following commentary highlights the findings of a recent systematic review of factors which, to-date, have been identified as the most successful preventive approaches across four established social domains; bullying, alcohol, tobacco and social drug use. Although the systematic review highlighted no 'magical ingredients' for ensuring effectiveness, there were common 'recipes for success', including (i) targeting young participants -when attitudes and values are forming; (ii) providing interactive material that develops social skills; (iii) monitoring and delivering programmes with high degrees of fidelity; (iv) basing delivery on well-trained staff; (v) incorporating long-term 'booster sessions' to reinforce key messages. Now, research should contribute to an evidence-base that allows the discovery, application and evaluation of key elements of effective anti-doping education.

Doping Prevalence among U.S. Elite Athletes Subject to Drug Testing under the World Anti-Doping Code

Sports medicine - open/Sports medicine - Open, 2024

Background Determining the prevalence of doping within an elite athlete population is challenging due to the extreme sensitivity of the topic; however, understanding true doping prevalence is important when designing antidoping programs and measuring their effectiveness. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of doping among Olympic, Paralympic, World, and National-level competitive athletes in the United States subject to the World Anti-Doping Code. All athletes who were subject to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, a World Anti-Doping Code ("Code")-compliant anti-doping program, were invited to complete a web-delivered survey. Using a direct questioning approach, the survey items asked athletes whether they had used each specific category of banned substance / method on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List. Multiple strategies to encourage honest reporting (e.g., protecting anonymity by collecting minimal demographic information; using an outside organization to administer the survey) and to detect inconsistent responses were used. Results Depending on the method of calculation, 6.5-9.2% of the 1,398 respondents reported using one or more prohibited substances or methods in the 12 months prior to survey administration. Specific doping prevalence rates for each individual substance / method categories ranged from 0.1% (for both diuretics / masking agents and stem cell / gene editing) to 4.2% for in-competition use of cannabinoids. Conclusion Determining the prevalence of doping within different athlete populations is critical so that sport governing bodies can evaluate their anti-doping efforts and better tailor their programming. By measuring doping prevalence of specific categories of substances and methods, rather than just the overall prevalence of doping, this study also highlights where sport governing bodies should focus their future educational and detection efforts. Key Points • Estimated doping prevalence among U.S. elite athletes ranged from 6.5 to 9.2%. • The most prevalent category of doping was in-competition use of cannabinoids (at 4.2%), whereas the least prevalent categories of doping were diuretics or masking agents (0.1%), stem cell or gene editing (0.1%), narcotics (0.2%), and hormone and metabolic modulators (0.2%). • Of the athletes who reported doping, most reported using only one substance or method.

Review of social science anti-doping literature and recommendations for action (Executive Summary)

A systematic review of the social science literature on doping published between 2000 and the present (July 2014) was conducted. A total of 529 relevant publications were identified. This included 481 academic peer-reviewed journal articles (90.9% of the total), 43 chapters in scholarly books (8.1%) and five scholarly books (0.9%). Each publication was coded for year of publication, research methodology, country of origin (i.e., where data collection occurred), populations studied, sample sizes and focus of the study. CONTACT FIRST AUTHOR FOR FULL COPY OF REPORT

Survey of the Awareness and Knowledge of Anti-Doping among Elite and General Triathlon Athletes

International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 2023

Doping tests have been conducted in triathlon competitions in which general athletes have been participating since 2018. Therefore, since all triathlon athletes, regardless of competitive level, may be subjected to doping testing, there is a need for expanded Anti-Doping Education aimed at general athletes. This study compares the awareness and knowledge of elite and general athletes in triathlon to clarify the current situation of general athletes and to examine the issues and measures for antidoping education. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 113 elite athletes and 453 general athletes. The results of the survey showed that elite athletes had a significantly higher score on the knowledge questions and a significantly higher percentage of learning experiences about antidoping than general athletes (p < 0.01). The score on knowledge questions was also significantly higher for both elite and general athletes with learning experience (p < 0.01). Elite athletes were significantly more likely than general athletes to agree that doping is "It is unacceptable" (p < 0.01). The reason elite athletes were more aware and knowledgeable about anti-doping than general athletes is that elite athletes had the opportunity to learn about antidoping in training camps and educational institutions. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that anti-doping education for general athletes is important.

Doping Prevalence Among Elite U.S. Athletes

Research Square (Research Square), 2023

Background: Determining the prevalence of doping within an elite athlete population is challenging due to the extreme sensitivity of the topic, however understanding true doping prevalence is important when designing anti-doping programs and measuring their effectiveness. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of doping among Olympic, Paralympic, World and National-level competitive athletes in the United States subject to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. This study used a web-delivered survey and direct questioning approach to collect data from athletes in the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Registered Testing Pool or Clean Athlete Program. For the rst time, a prevalence survey of elite athletes used the WADA Prohibited List to assess prevalence in each speci c category of banned substance / method. Results: Of 1,425 respondents, overall doping prevalence among U.S. elite athletes in the 12 months prior to survey administration ranged from an estimated 6.7-9.2% depending on the method of calculation. Speci c doping prevalence rates for each individual substance category ranged from 0.1% (diuretics or masking agents) to 4.1% for cannabinoids (in-competition). Conclusion: By measuring doping prevalence down to speci c performance enhancing substances and methods, as well as coupling with individual athlete personality characteristics such as attitudes, motivators and norms, a clearer picture of the use of speci c prohibited substances in-and out ofcompetition, attitudes toward doping, beliefs about testing and most effective deterrents can be identi ed. By understanding doping prevalence, anti-doping programs can be tailored to increase deterrence and overall program effectiveness.

The Attitudes of Track and Field Throwers toward Performance Enhancing Drug Use and Drug Testing

2010

The practice of enhancing athletic performance through the use of ergogenic aids or by extraneous artificial means is as old as competitive sport itself. Although the abuse of such substances has been historically problematic, very little research assessing the attitudes of strength/power athletes concerning ergogenic aids exists. As national anti-doping organizations (NADOs) adopt preventative measures to complement detection-based deterrence methods, understanding athlete attitudes towards drugs in sport will take on a new importance. This study was conducted to measure athlete attitudes in the sport of track and field (specifically throwers) toward performance enhancing drug (PED) use and drug testing. The results suggest that both attitude (mean = 1.20 ± 0.91) and behavioral intent (mean = 1.27± 1.5) of throwers in the United States are supportive of the anti-doping movement. However, the score on subjective norm (mean =-0.18 ± 1.03) was negative suggesting that track and field throwers perceive doping as a problem in elite-level (professional or post-collegiate) track and field. The conclusions of the present study support previous research findings: negative attitudes towards doping and positive attitudes in support of drug testing.

Doping behaviors and prevention in amateur sport: an update and new perspective

Background: Doping is not limited to elite athletes. To reduce doping in sport, it seems important to influence young athletes in primary prevention. Purpose: Based on previous research, the purpose of this paper is to give an overview on doping behaviors in amateur sport, actual prevention campaigns, and to propose a new perspective in doping prevention. Methods: This mini-review is based on articles published in English and French between 1990 and 2014 retrieved from different databases (i.e., PubMed, Science Direct, Francis, Cairn. Info). In addition, some edited books and chapter books, and recent research reports were used to complete this mini-review. Results: Doping is increasingly important among amateur athletes. To date, traditional doping prevention campaigns are often ineffective. In recent years, a new model of prevention campaigns based on fear, coming from the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian countries, has been used notably in France (e.g., prevention campaigns for road safety, tobacco, alcohol, cancer). Fear-based campaigns have scientific support and have shown a relatively small but still solid effect on attitudes, intentions and behaviors. Conclusion: The fight against doping would benefit from trying fear-based antidoping campaigns.