Context
The mission of WADA is to “promote, co‐ordinate and monitor, on an international basis, the fight against doping in sport in all its forms” (WADA, 2009; p. 2). To further WADA’s anti‐doping initiatives, a Social Sciences Research Grant Program was created to “encourage research in the social sciences and to obtain information, which will enable more efficient doping‐prevention strategies” (p.2).
The present study was funded by the WADA Social Sciences Research Grant Program. The general aims of this project were to:
1. Identify factors that motivate young athletes to use performance enhancing drugs (PEDs)
2. Identify factors that deter young athletes from using PEDs.
Conclusions
The findings of the present research show that there is a clear link between moral functioning, as originally conceptualized by Rest (1984) and attitudes towards PEDs. There is also a clear link
between moral disengagement, as originally conceptualised by Bandura (1991) and attitudes towards PEDs. In short, morality, however it is theoretically conceptualised and operationalised, predicts attitudes to doping.
It is necessary to develop training programs that aim to educate young athletes and thus deter future drug use. However, there are some conceptual issues that should be addressed before embarking on any such efforts. While the current study shows a strong link between morality and attitudes to PEDs, when asked to identify the ‘top of mind’ disadvantages of PED use, the respondents overwhelmingly identified health related problems.
Future research employing measures of morality based on both Rest’s and Bandura’s may be warranted, particularly if placed in a broader framework aiming to develop a reliable and valid measure of morality in sporting contexts. This should clearly include contexts such as PED use.
