Psychosocial factors facilitating use of cognitive enhancing drugs in education : a qualitative investigation of moral disengagement and associated processes / Andrew Robert Heyes, Ian David Boardley

• Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy 26 (2019) 4, p. 329-338
• DOI:10.1080/09687637.2019.1586831
• Special Issue: Pharmaceutical Cognitive Enhancement

Abstract

Illicit use of prescription drugs (e.g. modafinil) to enhance academic performance – termed cognitive enhancement (CE) – is a legal, health, and ethical issue. Guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory of moral thought and action, this study investigated whether student users of CE evidenced specific psychosocial mechanisms (i.e. mechanisms of moral disengagement) when explaining their reasons for CE. Following ethical approval from the lead author’s institution, in-depth-semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine students with experience of CE. Data were content analysed deductively, using definitions for the eight mechanisms of moral disengagement; six of the eight mechanisms were identified through data analysis: diffusion of responsibility (DR), advantageous comparison (AC), distortion of consequences (DCs), displacement of responsibility, moral justification, and euphemistic labelling. In addition, inductive data analysis identified three further themes; self-medication, family and friends, and institutional position. Overall, the study findings suggest students may morally disengage to justify and rationalise use of CE to minimise negative emotional responses (e.g. guilt) that may be expected to result given the potential legal-, health-, and ethics-based deterrents to CE.

iNADO Update (2024) 03/04 (23 April)
Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO)

Contents:

Building a Supportive Community

• Paris 2024 Paralympic Games- Anti-Doping Programme to NADOs
• iNADO Collection Campaign: NADOs Visual/Video Materials
• The International Conference on Doping and Public Health, June 17-18th in Stockholm

Improving Practice Everywhere

• Scheduled webinar
• Webinar WADA Groups Summary and Recording 
• 2024 Workshop summary, feedback and PPT links
• Informed Sport - Supporting the Anti-doping Community 

Speaking Up for NADOs & RADO Globally

• Recent Media Reports about Chinese Swimmers
• Newly Elected iNADO Governing Board - Message from Anders Solheim (iNADO Chair)
• AFLD Visit to iNADO's Office

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• Guiding Principles Online Form

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• Prepared for What is to Come - by departing CEO Jorge Leyva 

iNADO Sponsors & Partners

In March 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Celestine Chepchirchir after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Testosterone and its metabolites.

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Because she had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 19 April 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 26 March 2024.

In October 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported multipe anti-doping rule violations against the Ethiopian Athlete Zerfe Wondemagegn.

The AIU established that the Athlete's samples, provided in August, in September and in November 2023, tested positive for the prohibited substances Recombinant Erythropoietin (RhEPO) and Testosterone with its metabolites.

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The Athlete explained with evidence that she underwent medical treatment in a clinic in Ethiopia and that in July 2023 EPO had been administered as treatment for her diagnosed anemia and kidney infection. Yet, she could not explain the presence of Testosterone in her sample.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional and that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case. Because she had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 19 April 2024 to impose a 5 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 20 October 2023.

Report of the Independent Observers 19th Asian Games
Hangzhou, China 2022 / Independent Observer Team. - Montreal : World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), 2024

In January 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Mueni Mutua after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Trimetazidine and Testosterone and its metabolites.

After notification the Athlete failed to respond. Hereafter the AIU established that its prior correspondence had been submitted to and incorrect e-mail address for the Athlete. Thereupon the AIU reissued the notification in April 2024.

Following the new notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The AIU determines that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Further it deems that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case that justifies the imposition of a more severe sanction.

Because the Athlete had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 12 April 2024 to impose a 5 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 29 January 2024.

In March 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Bahraini Athlete Marius Kimutai after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Erythropoietin (EPO).

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Because he had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form he received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 12 April 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 28 March 2024.

In September 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Uzbek Athlete Farida Soliyeva after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium.

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The Athlete explained that in March 2023 she had used Ripronate (Meldonium) capsuls without a prescription. Further she demonstrated with medical documents that in late March 2023 after consultation she had received Meldonium injections for her diagnosed condition.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Because she had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 8 April 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 13 September 2023.

In November 2023 Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the archer Robert Knight after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Metoprolol. After the positive test the Athlete made an application for a TUE, yet this application was rejected.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.

The Athlete admitted the violation, denied the intentional use of the substance and argued that he acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence. He explained that he had used Metoprolol as prescribed medication for his diagnosed condition and that he was unaware that this medication contained a prohibited substance.

He asserted that his doctor knew that he was a competitive archer. Previously in 2010 he had discussed the anti-doping rules with her and she has had assisted in his TUE application.

DFSNZ accepted that the violation was not intentional. Nevertheless it deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that he acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence.

The Tribunal agrees that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and that there are no grounds for a reduced sanction. The Panel determines that there was no evidence that the Athlete's doctor was an expert in sports medicine and that this was the basis on which he relied on her medical advice.

Therefore the Tribunal decides on 5 April 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 10 November 2023.

In March 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Kennedy Cheboror. The AIU deemed that the Athlete had 3 Wherabouts Failures within a 12 month period:

• a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 6 November 2023;
• a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 28 November 2023;
• a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 27 December 2023.

Although the Athlete submitted his explanations to the AIU the Whereabouts Failures were recorded. In any case the Athlete did not file a request for an adminstrative review.

Following notification the Athlete gave a timely admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. Furthermore he signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

The Athlete did not challenge the first and third Whereabouts Failures. Regarding the second Whereabouts Failures he asserted that his management had failed to change his Whereabouts information he had requested.

Therefore the AIU decides on 4 April 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 4 March 2024.