“Doing What Is Right and Doing It Right”: A Mapping Review of Athletes' Perception of Anti-Doping Legitimacy

Abstract

Background: The creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency in 1999 and the first implementation of the Anti-Doping Code in 2004 established institutional and legal level legitimacy for the anti-doping movement. Subsequently, a distinct line of research examining athletes' perceptions of anti-doping has emerged. This study aims to review the literature on legitimacy via athletes' perceptions of the underpinning values, fairness and effectiveness of anti-doping rules and procedures.Methods: A systematic mapping review with computerised literature search of seven databases (EBSCOHost, PubMed, Ingenta, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, SPORTDiscuss and Google Scholar) was used, followed by hand-search of reference lists and relevant journals.Based on Tyler's (2006) psychological components of legitimacy (proper, just, and appropriate), a bespoke conceptual map and analytical framework was developed and employed for retrospective categorisation.Results: Thirty-nine studies representing 15,434 participants met the inclusion criteria. About half of eligible studies discussed legitimacy components without identifying them as such.. Identification of studies for legitimacy concepts faced considerable ambiguity in measures and interpretation, particularly in distinguishing between elements of being 'just' and 'appropriate'. Single focus on one aspect was rare but only 11 of the 39 studies included all three elements of perceived legitimacy. Overall, athletes agreed that anti-doping is 'doing the right thing' to protect clean sport but their views differed on whether the existing anti-doping system is effective and implemented fairly (i.e., 'doing anti-doping in a right way'). Owing to the ad hoc measurements and diverse methodology, quantitative meta-analysis was not feasible. Conclusion:Legitimacy is an important concept in anti-doping. Attention to globally equal and fair implementation of testing and sanctioning is warranted. Legitimacy perceptions can be improved by better communication from anti-doping organisations to highlight progress with detection, greater transparency and explicit support for athletes who were victims of doping. Future research requires standardised conceptual framework and measures.

Racing Clean in a Tainted World: A Qualitative Exploration of the Experiences and Views of Clean British Elite Distance Runners on Doping and Anti-Doping

“…Athletes' perceptions of the effectiveness and fairness of the anti-doping system has been widely studied, and the literature in that area was the subject of a recent mapping review (Woolway et al, 2020 ). It is noted in this review that the greater the extent to which an athlete views the anti-doping rules and regulations as legitimate, the more likely that athlete will be to comply with those rules and regulations.…”

Barriers and Enablers to Clean Sport: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis Informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework and COM-B Model

“…However, in order to develop fit-for-purpose education programmesand develop capability in the anti-doping systemathletes and ASP need to be engaged in the educational design and development process from the outset (Backhouse & McKenna, 2012;Petróczi et al, 2017). Involving athletes and ASP in the design and development of education programmes may increase their perceived legitimacy, and improve overall effectiveness, of the anti-doping system (Patterson et al, 2019;Woolway et al, 2020). Further education programmes need to move beyond compliance-based activities that are delivered didactically to ensuring programmes are engaging and interactive (Backhouse et al, 2009;Backhouse et al, 2014;Hallward & Duncan, 2019).…”

“…The latter explicitly recognises that clean sport comes from athletes 'being clean'. A recently completed pan-European community-based study with elite athletes and anti-doping organisations showed that whilst clean athlete identity is universally linked to rule-following and rooted in upbringing, early life experiences and love of sport, the definition of what constitute clean performance-enhancement within rulefollowing is highly idiosyncratic (Petróczi et al, 2020). This research suggests that it is the set of anti-doping rules, not the substances or methods per se, that defines clean sport behaviour for athletes.…”

One Does Not Fit All: European Study Shows Significant Differences in Value-Priorities in Clean Sport

“…Doping represents a social, institutional, and moral problem which undermines the Spirit of Sport, and counters the values that underpin sport and anti-doping organizations globally (Donovan et al, 2002 ; Engelberg et al, 2015 ; Petróczi et al, 2017 ; WADA, 2021a ). Since the creation of WADA in 1999, anti-doping organizations (ADOs), at national and/or regional levels, have attempted to prevent athletes' use of doping substances and methods through increased and improved doping control procedures and the use of the Whereabouts system (Gatterer et al, 2020 ; Woolway et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Athletes, spectators, and sponsors alike desire clean and fair sport, and it is this that gives legitimacy to anti-doping efforts. These shared values and priorities render the anti-doping effort ethically justifiable (Woolway et al, 2020 ). This shared sentiment and tacit agreement about the importance of the Spirit of Sport values justify infringements and inconvenience to athletes around doping control testing, limitation on privacy and personal freedom, and underpins anti-doping education.…”