Journal
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
Volume 20, Issue 2, Pages 336-345Publisher
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.00885.x
Keywords
intention to dope; social influence; attitude; performance-enhancing substances; professional; amateur; theory of reasoned action; culture of doping
Categories
Funding
- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
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Using a psychosociological approach, the purpose of this study was to identify and understand the use of doping substances by young elite cyclists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with young cyclists who were hoping to find a professional team and cyclists who had recently become professional. All of the young cyclists interviewed took nutritional supplements and believed that they improved their performance, which has been shown by other scholars to be a risk factor for doping. These cyclists believed that doping at the professional level in cycling was acceptable but did not approve of it at the amateur level. They were attracted to doping; they were open to using doping substances themselves if it was the key to continuing their cycling career, but only after they became professional. Team staff, doctors, parents and friends helped to create a clean environment that prevented the young cyclists from doping before becoming professional. The more experienced cyclists, who doped or used to dope, transmitted the culture of doping to the young cyclists, teaching them doping methods and which substances to use. This study could help to improve prevention and help to detect doping, as it is clear that doping behaviors begin at the amateur level.
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