Journal article
Applying a systems thinking lens to anti-doping: A systematic review identifying the contributory factors to doping in sport
Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.43(1), pp.8-22
2025
PMID: 38284139
Abstract
The use of performance enhancing substances and methods (known as "doping") in sport is an intractable issue, with current anti-doping strategies predominantly focused on the personal responsibility and strict liability of individual athletes. This is despite an emerging understanding that athletes exist as part of a broader complex sports system that includes governance, policymakers, media, sponsors, clubs, team members, and athlete support staff, to name a few. As such, there is a need to examine the broader systemic factors that influence doping in sport. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesise the factors contributing to doping and doping behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs and the extent to which this knowledge extends beyond the athlete to consider broader sports systems. The review followed PRISMA guidelines with risk of bias and study quality assessed by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and identified contributory factors synthesised and mapped onto a systems thinking-based framework. Overall, the included studies were determined to be of high quality. Support personnel, the coach, and the coach-athlete relationship represent key influences on the athletes' decisions to dope. From the evidence presented, doping is an emergent property of sport systems and represents a complex systemic problem that will require whole-of-system interventions. The implications for this and the focus of future research are discussed.
Details
- Title
- Applying a systems thinking lens to anti-doping: A systematic review identifying the contributory factors to doping in sport
- Authors
- Mitchell Naughton (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems SciencePaul M. Salmon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceHugo A. Kerherve (Author) - Université de RennesScott McLean (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
- Publication details
- Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol.43(1), pp.8-22
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1080/02640414.2024.2306056
- ISSN
- 1466-447X
- PMID
- 38284139
- Copyright note
- © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991002598702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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