World's Athletes Research Articles

Doping Prevalence among U.S. Elite Athletes Subject to Drug Testing under the World Anti-Doping Code.

Determining the prevalence of doping within an elite athlete population is challenging due to the extreme sensitivity of the topic; however, understanding true doping prevalence is important when designing anti-doping programs and measuring their effectiveness. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of doping among Olympic, Paralympic, World, and National-level competitive athletes in the United States subject to the World Anti-Doping Code. All athletes who were subject to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, a World Anti-Doping Code ("Code")-compliant anti-doping program, were invited to complete a web-delivered survey. Using a direct questioning approach, the survey items asked athletes whether they had used each specific category of banned substance / method on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List. Multiple strategies to encourage honest reporting (e.g., protecting anonymity by collecting minimal demographic information; using an outside organization to administer the survey) and to detect inconsistent responses were used. Depending on the method of calculation, 6.5-9.2% of the 1,398 respondents reported using one or more prohibited substances or methods in the 12 months prior to survey administration. Specific doping prevalence rates for each individual substance / method categories ranged from 0.1% (for both diuretics / masking agents and stem cell / gene editing) to 4.2% for in-competition use of cannabinoids. Determining the prevalence of doping within different athlete populations is critical so that sport governing bodies can evaluate their anti-doping efforts and better tailor their programming. By measuring doping prevalence of specific categories of substances and methods, rather than just the overall prevalence of doping, this study also highlights where sport governing bodies should focus their future educational and detection efforts.

Dilemma of Competitive Equality: Transgender vs Cisgender Athletes in Women's International Sports Competition

This research aims to solve the human rights issue of the participation of transgender female athletes in international sports competitions in the women's division. The existence of transgender female athletes yields two perspectives: inclusivity as a human right for transgender female athletes and unfair competition for cisgender female athletes. This issue occurs due to the physiological advantages possessed by a transgender female athlete from the high level of testosterone they have, which creates unfairness in sports competition for cisgender female athletes, and the policies of international sports organizations that exclude the participation of transgender female athletes who have experienced puberty to take part in international sports competitions. Several controversial cases have sparked debate in the international community, such as the Tiffany Newel case in the running competition and the Lia Thomas case in the swimming competition; both are female transgender athletes who won sports competitions in the women's division. Although a transgender individual already has inherent human rights regulated through international law, these rights could not be a basis that overrides the rights and freedoms of other people. In this case, the right to equal and safe competition for cisgender women. The solution to this problem is to develop an 'open category' which aims to ensure the participation of all world athletes in sports competitions regardless of gender or gender identity.

Medals, Rings, and Olympic Dreams: A Review Essay of Antonio Sotomayor and Cesar R. Torres, eds., Olimpismo

Medals, Rings, and Olympic Dreams: A Review Essay of Antonio Sotomayor and Cesar R. Torres, eds., <i>Olimpismo</i>

THE TECHNIQUE OF ELITE ATHLETES SPECIALIZED IN 50 KM RACE WALK

Purpose: to reveal trends of changing the technique of highly skilled 50 km race walkers along with the increase of sports results based on biomechanical characteristics analysis. Material and methods. Technique biomechanical analysis data of the best world and Ukrainian athletes, obtained in the course of studies at 2015–2018 national race walk championships in 50 km and 35 km distances are presented. Biomechanical characteristics of 22 highly skilled athletes (14 males and 8 females) specialized in 50 km race walk (total number of sports results 30) have been determined and analyzed. Results. Improvement of sports result in the men’s 50 km race walk to the world best level occurs mainly at the expense of stride length increase 1.10 m (p &lt; 0.05). Result improvement to the world level from 4:10:00 (S = 0:07:50) to 3:56:27 (S = 0:02:08) mainly occurs at the expense of stride frequency increase to 3.32 stride·s–1 (S = 0.10) at statistically significant differences with indices of the national level athletes (p &lt; 0.01). It has been revealed that in females of the high national level specialized in 50 km race walk (results close to 4:31:37), the indices of stride length and frequency constitute 0.95 m (S = 0.02) and 3.22 stride·s–1 (S = 0.12), respectively. Conclusions. Comparative analysis of race walk technique kinematic characteristics of athletes of different skill levels specialized in 50 km race walk has been conducted. Prospects and directions for improving sports results of potential national team members have been revealed on the basis of comparison with the indices of national team members and elite athletes. A sharp improvement of sports results of female athletes in 50 km race walk during the last few years is noteworthy. It was due to this discipline inclusion in the program of Track and Field World Championships.

Evidence-based and adverse-effects analyses of cupping therapy in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation: A systematic and evidence-based review.

Cupping therapy has been used to treat musculoskeletal impairments for about 4000 years. Recently, world athletes have provoked an interest in it, however, the evidence to support its use in managing musculoskeletal and sports conditions remains unknown. To evaluate the evidence level of the effect of cupping therapy in managing common musculoskeletal and sports conditions. 2214 studies were identified through a computerized search, of which 22 met the inclusion criteria. The search involved randomized and case series studies published between 1990 and 2019. The search involved five databases (Scopus, MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Academic Search Complete PLUS (EBSCO), and CrossRef) and contained studies written in the English language. Three analyses were included: the quality assessment using the PEDro scale, physical characteristic analysis, and evidence-based analysis. The results showed that most studies used dry cupping, except five which used wet cupping. Most studies compared cupping therapy to non-intervention, the remaining studies compared cupping to standard medical care, heat, routine physiotherapy, electrical stimulation, active range of motion and stretching, passive stretching, or acetaminophen. Treatment duration ranged from 1 day to 12 weeks. The evidence of cupping on increasing soft tissue flexibility is moderate, decreasing low back pain or cervical pain is low to moderate, and treating other musculoskeletal conditions is very low to low. The incidence of adverse events is very low. This study provides the first attempt to analyze the evidence level of cupping therapy in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation. However, cupping therapy has low to moderate evidence in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation and might be used as a useful intervention because it decreases the pain level and improves blood flow to the affected area with low adverse effects.

Strategic differences in trampoline gymnastics between Japanese and world athletes

Strategic differences in trampoline gymnastics between Japanese and world athletes

ANALYSIS AND TRENDS OF DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS AEROBICS

Aim. The article aims to determine the balance of power in sports aerobics in various competitions and to shape approaches to training highly skilled athletes of the Russian national sports aerobics team. Materials and methods. The following methods were used in the study: the ana­lysis of scientific and methodical literature, analysis of video materials (7 videos of Russian Championships, 112 finals of European Championships in 2015, 2017, 2019, 106 world finals in 2016, 2018), analysis of regulatory documents in the field of sports activity. Results. The main trends in the development of world sports aerobics as well as its world leaders are determined: 1) a comparison of the competition rules allows determining the main and characteristic structural groups of elements in the competitive program of the leading Russian and world athletes; 2) the identification of major technical errors significantly affects the assessment as a whole; 3) the use of acrobatic and semi-acrobatic exercises in the competitive program both entertains and increases the complexity of the program. Conclusion. Sports aerobics is a relatively young sport in Russia. However, from the first steps, Russian athletes managed to win medals in this discipline. Initially, highly skilled athletes from related sports such as gymnastics, acrobatics, rhythmic gymnastics were involved in sports aerobics. Now, it is an independent sport with its specifics and training system. The Russian training system is proved to be reliable and effective considering the number of medals.

Lifestyles and mindsets of Olympic, Paralympic and world champions: is an integrated approach the key to elite performance?

ObjectivesThe holy grail of any nation in the global sporting race is to better understand, replicate and sustain podium winning performances on the world stage. International sporting bodies advocate a...

A New Twisting Somersault: 513XD

We present the mathematical framework of an athlete modelled as a system of coupled rigid bodies to simulate platform and springboard diving. Euler's equations of motion are generalised to non-rigid bodies, and are then used to innovate a new dive sequence that in principle can be performed by real world athletes. We begin by assuming shape changes are instantaneous so that the equations of motion simplify enough to be solved analytically, and then use this insight to present a new dive (513XD) consisting of 1.5 somersaults and 5 twists using realistic shape changes. Finally, we demonstrate the phenomenon of converting pure somersaulting motion into pure twisting motion by using a sequence of impulsive shape changes, which may have applications in other fields such as space aeronautics.

Psychological characteristics of champion orienteers: Should they be considered in talent identification and development?

A range of cognitive skills that support the development of sport potential have been suggested to be important for athletes and coaches. This study explored performers’ psychological characteristics within orienteers. The psychological skills of World Elite orienteers and athletes in the National Junior Squads of both Great Britain and Switzerland were assessed using the six-factor Psychological Characteristics of Excellence Questionnaire. Data suggested that, as juniors, elite orienteers reported less support for long-term success than the Swiss juniors, perhaps because of the earlier adoption of self-coaching, but were not significantly different from either junior group on all other factors. British juniors were not significantly different from the other two groups on any factor. Follow-up qualitative approaches explored possible reasons for the World Elites’ early reliance on “self” rather than “other”, the role of the coach and the self-coaching phenomenon. The role of orienteering in developing these skills is also discussed along with unique psychological challenges faced by high performing orienteers.

How Golfers and Tennis Players Frame Themselves: A Content Analysis of Twitter Profile Pictures

Media have been accused of marginalizing women’s sports by denying them coverage and emphasizing female athletes’ femininity, rather than athleticism, for decades. But in today’s world athletes may communicate directly with their fans through online social media. This gives female athletes the possibility to present themselves in a new light. Do they take advantage of it, or do they corroborate the practices of traditional media? This study was designed to determine whether a sexual difference exists in how male and female tennis players and golfers frame themselves on their official Twitter accounts. Although no sexualization was found, this study shows that female athletes visually present themselves as feminine women first and as athletes second, while the majority of their male counterparts frame themselves primarily as athletes.

Imaging of shoulder pain in overhead throwing athletes

Overhead sports are widely practiced around the world and overhead athletes can present with pain and dysfunction in the throwing shoulder, generally due to degenerative changes secondary to overuse. Numerous etiologies can be taken into account, including rotator cuff and glenoid labrum tears, biceps pathologies, internal impingement, and gleno-humeral instability. In this setting, imaging plays a central role in early diagnosis, thus allowing for a prompt management, correct rehabilitation, and quick return to competition. This review is aimed to discuss the role of imaging to diagnose the most common types of overhead-related shoulder injuries.

Doping and the Latest Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the anti-doping rule encroachments. According to the world anti-doping agency code, athletes or other persons shall be responsible for knowing what constitutes an anti-doping rule encroachment and the substances and methods which have been placed on the prohibited list. It is each athlete’s personal task to be sure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body. Athletes must be responsible for any forbidden substance or its metabolites or markers found to be present in their samples. Therefore, it is not necessary that any attempt, mistake, neglect or understanding of use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an anti-doping ... Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA

Sports around the world: history, culture, and practice

Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice provides a unique, global overview of sports and sports cultures. Unlike most works of this type, this book provides both essays that examine general topics, such as globalization and sport, international relations and sport, and tourism and sport, as well as essays on sports history, culture, and practice in world regions--for example, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and Oceania--in order to provide a more global perspective. These essays are followed by entries on specific sports, world athletes, stadiums and arenas, famous games and matches, and major controversies. Spanning topics as varied as modern professional cycling to the fictional movie Rocky to the deadly ball game of the ancient Mayans, the first three volumes contain overview essays and entries for specific sports that have been and are currently practiced around the world. The fourth volume provides a compendium of information on the winners of major sporting competitions from around the world. Readers will gain invaluable insights into how sports have been enjoyed throughout all of human culture, and more fully comprehend their cultural contexts. The entries provide suggestions for further reading on each topic-- helpful to general readers, students with school projects, university students and academics alike. Additionally, the four-volume Sports Around the World spotlights key charismatic athletes who have changed a sport or become more than just an outstanding player.

Assessing The Best Track And Field Performances From East To West

Assessing the limits of human athletic performance has been a very attractive topic not only to scientists but also to common people. Human being has been running faster and faster and jumping higher and higher through the world from east to west. Especially in last two decades, the best track and field performances in the Far East countries such as China and Korea have been improving dramatically. One is always wondering whether this trend would continue and when is the end. Is sky the limit for improving the track and field performances? There is little research in the literature to assess the trend of the track and field performances of the east and west countries. A suitable procedure is real demand for the assessment of the limits of human athletic performances. PURPOSE (1) to find an appropriate procedure to assess the limits of human track and field performances, (2) to examine the trend of the best track and field performances in Far East (China and Korea) and to compare the Far East best performances with the world best performances, and to investigate whether sky is really the limit. METHODS Both the male and female best annual performance data of the four selected events over the last three decades (800 meters, 1500 meters, Marathon, and high jump) were used. The annual best performances were recorded based on Chinese, Korean, and world athletes' competitions in national and international levels. Different nonlinear regression models (polynomial and exponential models) and the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) in time-series analysis were used to fit the male and female data separately. In the nonlinear model, the best performance is dependent variable and the chronicle year is the independent variable. The best fitting models were identified to explain whether the selected track and field events at Chinese, Korean and international levels have reached an asymptotic level (a stationary time series). RESULTS For both male and female performances, the exponential model was the best fitting model in all the selected events. An asymptotic level has been achieved in all the selected events at both the east country (China and Korea) and international competitions. An ARIMA(0.0.0) model was identified for the last two decades data. CONCLUSION (1) Using the exponential nonlinear regression model and ARIMA time series model is a valid procedure to assess the track and field best performance data. (2) The waiting time to establish new records would be considerably longer in future, and it may show a random phenomenon.