Description
The use of banned performance-enhancing substances, also known as doping, is a major threat to the health of athletes and the integrity and image of sport. Therefore, understanding and preventing doping in sport is important. My research, conducted in the UK, Greece, Italy, and Denmark has shown that a range of social and psychological factors are associated with doping likelihood, which is a proxy for doping behaviour. Some of the factors that are likely to inhibit or prevent doping are a strong moral identity, anticipated guilt for doping, and self-efficacy to resist the temptation to dope. Conversely, moral disengagement, which refers to the justifications people use for transgressive behavior and a performance motivational climate (i.e., a coaching environment that puts too much emphasis on winning) are likely to facilitate doping. Based on this research, which received funding from the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee, and with collaborators from the UK, Greece, and Italy, I developed and evaluated two doping prevention programmes with British, Greek, and Italian athletes as participants. In my talk, I will discuss this research, outlining the development and content of these programmes and presenting evidence for their effectiveness in reducing athletes’ doping likelihood in the short and long term.| Period | 11 Nov 2022 |
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| Held at | University of Illinois System, United States, Illinois |
| Degree of Recognition | International |