Athletes' perceptions of anti-doping sanctions: the ban from sport versus social, financial and self-imposed sanctions

TY - JOUR

T1 - Athletes' perceptions of anti-doping sanctions: the ban from sport versus social, financial and self-imposed sanctions

AU - Overbye, Marie Birch

AU - Elbe, Anne-Marie

AU - Knudsen, Mette Lykke

AU - Pfister, Gertrud Ursula

N1 - CURIS 2015 NEXS 090

PY - 2015/3/16

Y1 - 2015/3/16

N2 - Today the main doping deterrence strategy is to ban athletes from sport if caught. This study examines whether Danish elite athletes perceive the ban as a deterrent and how they evaluate social, self-imposed and financial sanctions compared with the ban. Questionnaires were emailed to elite athletes from 40 sports (N = 645; response rate, 43%). Results showed that 78% of athletes regarded the ban as a deterrent. Older male athletes, however, did so to a lesser degree. Seventy-seven per cent, regardless of gender, age, sport type and previous experience of doping testing, viewed social sanctions as a greater deterrent than the ban. Many also considered self-imposed sanctions (54%) and financial consequences (47%) a greater deterrent. Four per cent considered neither the ban nor the presented alternatives a deterrent. The findings indicate that the ban from sport deters doping. Nevertheless, other deterrents seem to affect athletes more. The findings can be used to address future anti-doping education programmes.

AB - Today the main doping deterrence strategy is to ban athletes from sport if caught. This study examines whether Danish elite athletes perceive the ban as a deterrent and how they evaluate social, self-imposed and financial sanctions compared with the ban. Questionnaires were emailed to elite athletes from 40 sports (N = 645; response rate, 43%). Results showed that 78% of athletes regarded the ban as a deterrent. Older male athletes, however, did so to a lesser degree. Seventy-seven per cent, regardless of gender, age, sport type and previous experience of doping testing, viewed social sanctions as a greater deterrent than the ban. Many also considered self-imposed sanctions (54%) and financial consequences (47%) a greater deterrent. Four per cent considered neither the ban nor the presented alternatives a deterrent. The findings indicate that the ban from sport deters doping. Nevertheless, other deterrents seem to affect athletes more. The findings can be used to address future anti-doping education programmes.

U2 - 10.1080/17430437.2014.982539

DO - 10.1080/17430437.2014.982539

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1743-0437

VL - 18

SP - 364

EP - 384

JO - Sport in Society

JF - Sport in Society

IS - 3

ER -