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

Abstract

Socioeconomic differences between countries, including corruption and doping scandals, have increased in the last few decades. The aims of the current investigation were to examine doping prevalence according to world areas and sport groups and its association with socioeconomic factors worldwide. The Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) of 160 countries competing at 2016 Olympics were analyzed between 2013 and 2018. In addition, the relationship between doping prevalence and socioeconomic characteristics, including Human Development Index (HDI), Per Capita Income (PCI) and Corruption Index (CI), was investigated. Africa, Asia, and America were revealed to have a significantly lower doping prevalence than Europe and Oceania when observing the sum and the mean ADRV/10,000 inhabitants (p < 0.01). Strong to moderate correlations were identified between Corruption Index and ADRVs and HDI and ADRVs (p < 0.01). However, the number of Olympic athletes was positively associated with the ADRVs and the HDI (r = 0.663 and 0.424, respectively). In the comparison by sport groups, the Independent Recognized Sports (AIMS) showed significantly higher Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) and ADRVs (p < 0.01) than Olympic and Recognized International Sports (ARISF). In conclusion, the results of the current study reveal doping prevalence differences between world areas and sport categories, identifying associations with socioeconomic characteristics of each country.

Corporate Scandals and Global Indexes

“…Our research shows that global indexes significantly associate the number of transgression cases and their disclosure as a corporate scandal. Our findings are consistent with the work of Dorfleitner et al (2022) and Terreros et al (2022), who found a positive correlation between HDI and transgressions, as well as Terreros et al (2022) study, which saw a negative correlation between CPI and transgressions. Additionally, Aguiar et al (2019) and Gerged and Elheddad (2020) research suggests a positive association between HDI and governance.…”

“…The findings of these studies are generally complex and inconclusive. However, some studies have found a negative correlation between low CPI values and higher reported transgressions (Terreros et al, 2022).…”

“…For instance, research by Terreros et al (2022) showed a negative correlation between HDI and doping cases in the Olympic games. Dorfleitner et al (2022) state that a high HDI is associated with more developed societies with high moral standards.…”

“…Some studies use CPI as a measure of corruption at a country-level and connect it to cases of corporate corruption scandals, regardless of the type of corruption that occurs, whether it be financial, sports-related, government-related, or political (Johnson, 2015;Terreros et al, 2022;Zirker & Barrett, 2017). The findings of these studies are generally complex and inconclusive.…”