Abstract
This article describes and analyses the historical development of gym and fitness culture in general and doping use in this context in particular. Theoretically, the paper utilises the concept of subculture and explores how a subcultural response can be used analytically in relation to processes of cultural normalisation as well as marginalisation. The focus is on historical and symbolic negotiations that have occurred over time, between perceived expressions of extreme body cultures and sociocultural transformations in society—with a perspective on fitness doping in public discourse. Several distinct phases in the history of fitness doping are identified. First, there is an introductory phase in the mid-1950s, in which there is an optimism connected to modernity and thoughts about scientifically-engineered bodies. Secondly, in the 1960s and 70s, a distinct bodybuilding subculture is developed, cultivating previously unseen muscular male bodies. Thirdly, there is a critical phase in the 1980s and 90s, where drugs gradually become morally objectionable. The fourth phase, the fitness revolution, can be seen as a transformational phase in gym culture. The massive bodybuilding body is replaced with the well-defined and moderately muscular fitness body, but at the same time there are strong commercialised values which contribute to the development of a new doping market. Finally, it is possible to speculate on the development of a fifth phase, in which fitness doping is increasingly being filtered into mainstream gym and fitness culture, influencing the fitness doping demography.
Highlights
With promises of new technologies, and the use of biochemical resources to boost performance and muscle mass, doping historically has been intertwined with the development of modern organised sport
The first phase of the history of contemporary fitness doping derives from a pre-history of bodybuilding and can be connected to physical culture, and strongmen of the early 20th century. This period of time was in many ways formative for the development of gym culture and bodybuilding, not least concerning the training techniques used to mould the bodies of men
The development within bodybuilding from the 1970s and onwards—the establishment of International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB), the stardom of Arnold Schwarzenegger and others, the rise of female bodybuilding, and the mediatisation of bodybuilding and fitness can be interpreted as elements of a second phase of the development of gym and fitness culture
Summary
With promises of new technologies, and the use of biochemical resources to boost performance and muscle mass, doping historically has been (and still is) intertwined with the development of modern organised sport. 1930s different kinds of drugs were used to combat fatigue and to increase sport performance This was largely done in a non-judgemental fashion, especially in comparison with contemporary perspectives on doping in public discourse. This article describes and analyses the historical development of doping use in the context of bodybuilding and fitness culture. The focus is on historical and symbolic negotiations that have occurred over time, between perceived expressions of extreme body cultures and sociocultural transformations in society—with a perspective on fitness doping in public discourse. Important and decisive historical developments within gym and fitness culture will be identified and analysed with an ambition: (a) to present the general background to fitness doping and (b) develop an analytically informed approach to how this practice can be conceptualised using a sociocultural and sociologically theoretical framework, and (c) point towards possible future developments
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