A sociocultural analysis of doping and gender

Summary

The objective of this project was to analyze and broaden the existing literature on sociocultural aspects of doping and gender. It aimed to gain insights into the knowledge and perceptions of gender and doping among university student-athletes, both female and male. Considering the hypothesized insufficient attention given to the experiences of non-Olympic and female athletes in doping research, the inclusion of this population is anticipated to reinforce the significance of exploring the interplay between gender and doping.

Methodology

This project involved three stages in order to gain insight into the connections between doping and gender:

1. Key arguments found in the literature on doping and gender, published in scholarly sources from the late 1960s to the present, were summarized and included in an annotated bibliography. The information provided the historical background needed to perform a philosophical, ethical, and sociocultural analysis of doping and gender in sport and was used to formulate the interview guide to be used in Stage 2.

2. Semi-structured interviews were performed with samples of 38 Canadian varsity athletes from three different universities with reference to doping risks, preventative factors, and perceptions of gender in sport and doping practices.

3. Results from the interviews with the Canadian university athletes were compared to the initial findings from a large doping study conducted in Denmark by Professor Gertrud Pfister. The purpose of stage three was to determine whether gendered doping constructions are a North American issue or if similar findings occurred in Europe, specifically in Denmark.

Results

There is a gap in the literature focusing on gender and doping. There has been more research completed on doping from a quantitative approach that has neglected the role gender issues play in doping. Doping prevention and education programs need to account for gender stereotypes when creating policies and programs. Doping is prevalent in Canadian university sport, especially in football. Student-athletes perceive there is a lack of drug testing for both male and female university athletes. Many student-athletes were never tested despite playing university sport for 5 years. Student-athletes require more education in order to understand why certain substances are banned and others are not. The current education system in the CIS in inadequate according to the athletes interviewed. The insights gained in the Canadian and Danish study can only be interpreted and  understood in the context of the Canadian and the Danish (sport) cultures. Cross cultural comparisons are depended on specific cultures and contexts. Despite their being some similarities between the two, i.e. perspectives on marijuana as a non-performance enhancer; the differences in the two studies creates some important results.

Significance for Clean Sport

Doping prevention and education programs should account for gender stereotypes when creating policies and programs. According to many student-athletes, the current education system in the CIS is inadequate. The CIS’s efforts to highlight doping prevention have not been acknowledged by the athletes. 

Related publications

Getting Jacked and Burning Fat: Examining Doping and Gender Stereotypes in Canadian University Sport