Background and Purpose: Through comparing handedness and laterality between successful athletes and ordinary people, this study endeavored to investigate the probable relationship between these two factors and skills and abilities which distinguish successful athletes from other members of the society. Procedure: The sample population in the current study included Iranian men and women who were assigned into two groups of ordinary population (group 1) and successful male and female athletes (group 2). Carter’s Laterality Inventory and The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory were employed to measure laterality and handedness, respectively. It needs to be noted that validity and reliability of Persian translation of both inventories have been proved. Following the completion of the inventories, individuals’ laterality and handedness were determined, and the data were prepared for statistical analysis. Findings: The participants included 212 individuals, out of which 135 (63.7%) were male and 77 (36.3%) were female. The individuals were compared in two groups. The first group consisted of successful athletes. Out of the 130 individuals, 45 (34/6%) were female and 85 (65/4%) were male. The second group were ordinary people from private schools in Tehran which entailed 32 (39%) women and 50 (61%) men.

Background: Regarding increasing and concerning worldwide trends of doping and lack of definite information about contributing factors in this era, this study was performed to determine the emotional intelligence in athletes with doping history in comparison with general population. Methods and materials: In this case-control study 30 subjects were enrolled including two groups of professional athletes with doping history and general population. In each group 15 subjects were present. The emotional intelligence was assessed by Bar-On Emotional Questionnaire. Results: The highest and lowest total scores in athletes group were 401 and 197 and in normal population group 410 and 243 were highest and lowest obtained scores and there was significant difference between total scores of two groups (P=0.001), and also in some subscale items including stress tolerance, optimism, self-regard, impulse control, and assertiveness (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Totally, according to the obtained results in this study, it may be concluded that there is significantly lower emotional intelligence in athletes with doping history in comparison with general population. Keywords: Athletes, Doping, Emotional intelligence

Background: Regarding increasing and concerning worldwide trends of doping and lack of definite information about contributing factors in this era, this study was performed to determine the frequency of social phobia in athletes with doping history in comparison with general population. Methods and materials: In this case-control study 30 subjects were enrolled including two groups of professional athletes with doping history and general population. In each group 15 subjects were present. All subjects were interviewed according to DSM-IV criteria. The social phobia was assessed by social phobia inventory (SPIN). Results: Ten subjects (including 7 men and 3 women) in athletes group and 6 subjects (including 4 men and 2 women) in normal population group had social phobia showing no significant difference between groups (P=0.143). The gender had no effect on having social phobia in none of the groups (P=1.000). Conclusions: Totally, according to the obtained results in this study, it may be concluded that there is no significant difference between presence of social phobia in athletes with doping history and general population. Keywords: Athletes, Doping, Social phobia