Framing the space of performance enhancing drug use in sport: Nationalism bias in the Australian Media

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sports media regularly frames the issue of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) through the ideals of morality, nationalism and expected behaviours. This has provided an emergent focus for research studies and extensive and enlightening coverage. This study aims to identify how the Australian media frames PEDs across a diverse range of media sources through the selection of five print and online media publications. Using nationalism bias and media framing, the study researched the prevailing positions, language and framing each publication used to report on individuals associated with, linked to or found to be using, PEDs. The prevalent, ‘nationalism-based’ reporting emerged, glorifying anti-doping procedures in relation to international athletes and sporting programmes. In comparison, the guilt and severity of punishments given to Australian athletes was questioned. Thus, the reporting presents both a political and biased narrative that is explored further within this manuscript.