Ninth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

This working paper explores a central question: How do members of the athlete’s support team discuss doping with the athlete? This work is motivated by anti-doping violation procedures in which athletes regularly report that they were advised by team physicians to take a prohibited substance or that they received such substances from a member of their team. As a result, over the past years, several coaches have been subjected to a period of ineligibility for anti-doping rule violations. While members of the athlete’s support team may act as a protective shield against doping, anecdotal evidence suggests they may also directly encourage doping, facilitate it by providing the necessary advice and access, or simply maintain a climate generally favourable to doping. Prior research has focused either on the individual’s decision to dope or on sport culture more broadly. Yet, given that members of the athlete’s support team may not only influence the athlete’s decision to dope, but also perpetuate a culture favourable to doping and winning at all costs, it is important to understand the role of the support team in doping. In particular, this work aims at understanding how the persons closest to the athlete influence her decisions regarding doping. Using qualitative research methods, i.e. matching emerging patterns from the analysis of various sources and perspectives including interviews, arbitral awards, and narrative accounts, we inquire into the process of communication between the athlete and her primary contact groups, such as teammates, parents, coaches, and physicians.