Doping Attitudes, Beliefs, and Practices among Young, Amateur Croatian Athletes

Abstract

Recent studies revealed that amateur athletes, especially young ones, have an increasing tendency of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) usage. The aim of this study was to explore PEDs attitudes, beliefs, and practices among young, amateur Croatian athletes. This cross-sectional study using a specially designed questionnaire as a research tool was done during the August 2019 to January 2020 period among a convenient sample of 400 amateur athletes of median age 18 (interquartile range 15 to 21) years. The prevalence of current PEDs usage was 1.3%, while past PEDs usage prevalence was 3.3%. Current PEDs usage was more frequent among young adults (p = 0.048) and athletes playing individual sports (p = 0.001). Athletes who were engaged in sports from one to five years had more permissive attitudes toward PEDs (p < 0.001) as measured by the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale. Female athletes had more positive beliefs about PEDs usage (p = 0.008). The study did not establish any correlation between current or past PEDs usage and attitudes toward PEDs as well as beliefs about PEDs usage. However, there was a weak positive correlation between attitudes toward PEDs and athletes’ beliefs about PEDs usage (rs = 0.465, p < 0.001). PEDs usage is present among young Croatian amateur athletes. There is a need for interventions directed toward the prevention of PEDs usage in an observed subgroup of athletes.

Relationship between Doping Prevalence and Socioeconomic Parameters: An Analysis by Sport Categories and World Areas

“…Prior investigations have determined financial gain and social recognition as the main reasons for doping use that might be considered forms of self-fulfillment [ 9 , 14 , 19 , 38 ]. In addition, when analyzing doping prevalence based on sport level, athletes’ doping intentions seem to increase according to sport level, observing greater values in the more successful athletes and in senior categories [ 4 , 11 , 18 ]. In accordance, the current investigation identified significant and positive associations between the number of Río 2016 Olympians and ADRVs values.…”

“…Prior investigations have examined and compared doping use based on discipline [ 2 , 6 ], age and gender [ 9 , 10 ], or sport level [ 4 , 11 ]. Athletic success and financial gain have been identified as the most common reasons for performance-enhancing drug (PED) consumption among athletes [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

Athlete's Cognition about Noxiousness of Doping in Sports

“…U drugim istraživanjima dođeno je do zaključka da je samo 63,2% ispitanika imalo pristup informacijama o antidopingu, 61,9% onih koji su koristili dodatke prehrani nisu znali sadržaj istih, a 57,1% sportaša nije bilo upoznato sa mogučim nuspojavama (19). Istraživanje provedeno u pet europskih država pokazalo je da doping koristi 8,1% rekreativnih sportaša, dok u Hrvatskoj doping koristi 1,3% rekreativnih sportaša (20,21).…”

Social Grievances and Drugs Rummage-Sale as Performance Enhancement Attitude of Mature Athletes – An Inferential Approach

“…The World Anti-Doping Agency has defined what anti-doping instruction or destruction resources are from where the drugs are approachable [18]. Therefore, anti-doping violations comprised of the occurrence of the forbidden ingredients in athletes' biological organism.…”

“…Therefore, anti-doping violations comprised of the occurrence of the forbidden ingredients in athletes' biological organism. The usage/practices of banned drug constituents, the athletes' prevention of doping control, illegal intrusion, or attempted practices of doping by the athletes should be strictly controlled to promote drug-free sports performances [18].…”