Abstract
Objectives:To evaluate the attitude and of athletes towards performance enhancement through doping and leading reason of their decision for the use of doping in a country.Methods:This Cross-Sectional descriptive study was conducted with non-probability convenience sampling over a period of six months from November 2018 to May 2019. This study included n=377 National and international athletes/players, of both genders aged 17-35 years, camping for preparation of 13th South Asian Games 2019 at Pakistan Sports Board, Jinnah Complex Islamabad, Pakistan. The athletes/ players with any disease, trauma or working as coaches or officials were excluded. Basic demographic sheet and Athletes Attitude to Doping Questionnaire were used for data collection which was analyzed using SPSS 21.Results:Study revealed significant difference in the Mean and Median scores of the six anti-doping factors with very low scores for “Long Term Health Implications” (Mean= 2.14, Md=2) and “Psychosocial Influences” (Mean=3, Md=3) compared to a high score for the remaining factors, indicating that the participants did not agree these two factors influenced their decision for not doping. Also, there was significant difference in the scores as revealed by Wilcoxon signed test, between Personal Ethical Standards and the remaining factors except Illegality of Substances (z=-1.705, p=0.088). Gender association was noted for anti-doping education and testing, with higher scores in males (p=0.031). Also Type of Main Sport had association with most factors except Long Term Health Implications while Level of Sport did not show any association except for Influence of Significant Others.Conclusion:Study concludes that Illegality of Substances and Personal ethical standards are the most significant factor for athletes’ decision for not doping.
Highlights
The international sports community has witnessed increased hue and cry over doping which is the use of performance enhancing drugs (PED) in sports[1] that provide an illegitimate advantage to players/athletes
It is an issue of international prominence,[2] with sports under the umbrella of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) being covered under anti-doping laws
Sample included athletes/players of both genders aged 17-35 years recruited from different teams and individual sports, who were camping in Pakistan under the umbrella of Pakistan Sports Board, for preparation of forthcoming 13th South Asian Games scheduled to be held in Dec 2019 in Kathmandu (Nepal)
Summary
The international sports community has witnessed increased hue and cry over doping which is the use of performance enhancing drugs (PED) in sports[1] that provide an illegitimate advantage to players/athletes. It is an issue of international prominence,[2] with sports under the umbrella of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) being covered under anti-doping laws. Deficiencies in screening process, result in involvement of athletes/ sportsmen in doping especially at national championship levels This is a matter of grave concern for trainers and coaches and a main concern due to long term health hazards, risks and its consequences. The latest changing rules of WADA (world antidoping agency) and threat of imposing sanctions on athletes is the only deterrent to produce neat clean athletes beside pure anti-doping education
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