Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability
Doping is considered a critical deviant behavior in competitive sports, and particularly in cycling, even though the phenomenon remains limited in sports in general. Previous qualitative studies have contributed to identify situations of vulnerability to doping in athletes. However, much of the rese...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1482103/full |
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| author | Valentine Filleul Fabienne d'Arripe-Longueville David Pavot Hugo Bimes Jacky Maillot Eric Meinadier Denis Hauw Karine Corrion |
| author_facet | Valentine Filleul Fabienne d'Arripe-Longueville David Pavot Hugo Bimes Jacky Maillot Eric Meinadier Denis Hauw Karine Corrion |
| author_sort | Valentine Filleul |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Doping is considered a critical deviant behavior in competitive sports, and particularly in cycling, even though the phenomenon remains limited in sports in general. Previous qualitative studies have contributed to identify situations of vulnerability to doping in athletes. However, much of the research tends to focus on singular dimensions of vulnerability, such as physical or psychological aspects. The present study aimed to extend existing knowledge by concurrently exploring and attempting to categorize different types of situations of vulnerability that predispose elite cyclists to engage in doping. Ten high-level French-speaking doped cyclists were recruited (Mage = 49; SD = 14.63, two women). Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Both deductive and inductive thematic analyses were performed. Our results highlighted four types of vulnerability situations: (a) psychological (e.g., negative affects, maladaptive motivation, depression), (b) physical (e.g., exhaustion, impairments, injuries), (c) relational (e.g., organized doping, control, psychological or sexual harassment, social approval of doping), and (d) contextual (e.g., cycling culture, weather conditions, competitive stakes). By providing a clearer categorization of the situations of vulnerability that converge toward doping in sport, this comprehensive study allows for a holistic understanding of the various vulnerabilities. It paves the way for future research on related vulnerabilities and dispositional factors. Practically, it should also improve doping screening and prevention, and provide more favorable conditions for athletes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d37cc19e8c164bebb707e3f7807988aa |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-d37cc19e8c164bebb707e3f7807988aa2025-08-20T02:32:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-11-01610.3389/fspor.2024.14821031482103Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerabilityValentine Filleul0Fabienne d'Arripe-Longueville1David Pavot2Hugo Bimes3Jacky Maillot4Eric Meinadier5Denis Hauw6Karine Corrion7LAMHESS, UniversitéCôte D’Azur, Nice, FranceLAMHESS, UniversitéCôte D’Azur, Nice, FranceDepartment of Marketing, Business School, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, CanadaLAMHESS, UniversitéCôte D’Azur, Nice, FranceMedical Department, French Federation of Cycling, Paris, FranceMedical Department, French Federation of Cycling, Paris, FranceFaculté des Sciences Sociales et Politiques, Institut des Sciences du Sport, Université de Lausanne, UNIL, Lausanne, SwitzerlandLAMHESS, UniversitéCôte D’Azur, Nice, FranceDoping is considered a critical deviant behavior in competitive sports, and particularly in cycling, even though the phenomenon remains limited in sports in general. Previous qualitative studies have contributed to identify situations of vulnerability to doping in athletes. However, much of the research tends to focus on singular dimensions of vulnerability, such as physical or psychological aspects. The present study aimed to extend existing knowledge by concurrently exploring and attempting to categorize different types of situations of vulnerability that predispose elite cyclists to engage in doping. Ten high-level French-speaking doped cyclists were recruited (Mage = 49; SD = 14.63, two women). Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Both deductive and inductive thematic analyses were performed. Our results highlighted four types of vulnerability situations: (a) psychological (e.g., negative affects, maladaptive motivation, depression), (b) physical (e.g., exhaustion, impairments, injuries), (c) relational (e.g., organized doping, control, psychological or sexual harassment, social approval of doping), and (d) contextual (e.g., cycling culture, weather conditions, competitive stakes). By providing a clearer categorization of the situations of vulnerability that converge toward doping in sport, this comprehensive study allows for a holistic understanding of the various vulnerabilities. It paves the way for future research on related vulnerabilities and dispositional factors. Practically, it should also improve doping screening and prevention, and provide more favorable conditions for athletes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1482103/fulldoping vulnerabilitiesmaladaptive motivationcyclingperformance-enhancing drugsinterviews |
| spellingShingle | Valentine Filleul Fabienne d'Arripe-Longueville David Pavot Hugo Bimes Jacky Maillot Eric Meinadier Denis Hauw Karine Corrion Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability Frontiers in Sports and Active Living doping vulnerabilities maladaptive motivation cycling performance-enhancing drugs interviews |
| title | Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability |
| title_full | Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability |
| title_fullStr | Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability |
| title_short | Doping in elite cycling: a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability |
| title_sort | doping in elite cycling a qualitative study of the underlying situations of vulnerability |
| topic | doping vulnerabilities maladaptive motivation cycling performance-enhancing drugs interviews |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1482103/full |
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