Environment as a vulnerability factor for doping: a qualitative examination of Indian track and field athletes’ hurdles to compete clean

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ABSTRACT India has one of the highest rates of doping, without accompanying international sporting success. Research on doping and developing countries has been sparse, and cases, such as India, warrant exploration. One approach to examining such a phenomenon is to move beyond interpersonal explanations and explore the athletes’ environment. Although environmental influence on athletes’ doping has been underscored, previous research in this regard has been limited. Hence this study explored the factors that contribute to Indian athletes’ vulnerability to doping by accounting for situational and systematic factors in the environment. Using a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-one elite Indian track and field athletes of which seven admitted using prohibited substances. Athletes discussed factors that influence their vulnerability to doping. Through data analysis, the following four themes were developed: (a) Coaching Structure and Deference, (b) Obligations, (c) Limited Oversight and Enforcement, and (d) Doping Reinforcement. Together, these themes highlight that the distinct cultural nuances within Indian society, pressure from, and interactions among influential others, the lack of coach development, added incentives, coupled with limited trust in anti-doping organizations engender a system where doping is openly witnessed. Moreover, the results demonstrate the interactions among environmental levels, illustrative of a complex system where doping is an emergent product. This study provides insights into the challenges of managing dopin in a developing country and highlights the need for research in the Global South and for structural interventions to effectively prevent doping rather than just focus on the individual athlete level.