No description available.

Title: Experiences of gym members with Performance Enhancing Drugs. Objectives: The aim of the diploma work is to explore the prevalence of doping in two particular fitness centres, to specify the most used doping substances, frequency and form of using, way of acquiring and to define reasons leading gym members to using these substances. No less important goal of the work is to find out the most reported benefits resulting from using doping as well as the most reported negative side effects. Methods: The main method used in the research is a questionnaire survey that is divided into three sections. The goal of the survey is to assess aspects of using performance enhancement drugs amongst gym members. Results: We found that 8% of the respondents reported positive experience with anabolic steroids as well as 5,3% of the respondents with diuretics and 3,7% of the respondents reported that they have used growth hormones. The most common substances are nandrolone and stanozolole (53,3%) followed by oxandrolone and testosterone (46,7%). Except these doping substances respondents mentioned methandienone, trenbolone, oxymetholone, clenbuterol, dianabol and boldenone. Keywords: doping, anabolic steroids, attitudes, recreational athletes, performance enhancing drugs

The world of sport has recently been inundated by stories of doping. These reports are not limited to a select few individuals or sports, but seemingly are spread across sports. At first, it was mostly members of the sports community voicing their discontent, but soon actors outside of the sports community, such as government committees, became interested. Anti-doping policies were created to reduce doping; however, these policies were created independently of government and vary in effectiveness. The most visible variances are between professional and amateur sports. Accordingly, this paper investigates why there is variation between professional and amateur anti-doping policies. This investigation is done in a qualitative fashion and employs the Most Similar System of Design (a comparative method) to identify that factors result in the differences. The paper also contributes to the field by creating and organizing the ethics of doping. Furthermore, it compares the various existing approaches to anti-doping policy by analysing the anti-doping policies of the PGA, IOC, WADA, and the MLB. Subsequently, the paper identifies seven obstacles facing anti-doping regulators and identifies new policy tools that could aid anti-doping policies. Finally, it closes with policy recommendations for the future. This paper is comprehensive: it introduces the topic of anti-doping, the subsequent definitions, explains the ethical considerations, answers why there is variation between professional and amateur anti-doping policies, and provides policy recommendations.

In this thesis we delve into the profile doping scandals involving Marion Jones and Lance Armstrong. Our aim is to analyze how the online news media portray doping allegations in sports specifically on these two athletes. Through a textual analysis and approach encompassing framing theory and intersectionality we explore the gender biases that may exist in media coverage and examine the influence of these representations. The connection between media coverage of suspected drug usage and public sentiment was investigated by using methods mentioned above between two fields of sports- cycling and track and field. This research reveals that the choices made by the media when framing their stories about doping shape opinion. This study also underscores the role played on representation by the media on doping crises within sports. It emphasizes the importance of transparent reporting that fosters discussions. By using these findings as a foundation, we can promote fairness, objectivity and evidence-based reporting when addressing instances of doping in sports.  Furthermore, this study contributes to existing literature on how the media portrays doping allegations by providing a framework for examining how these incidents are depicted by media outlets.

Mass spectrometry is a commonly used technique in the modern sports anti-doping laboratory. Characteristic product ions observed in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) can be used to identify prohibited substances. However, with continuous introduction of novel uncharacterized drugs, there is a need to increase the selectivity and coverage identification of mass spectrometry and non-mass spectrometry-based methods. The use of separations methods, (e.g., chromatography) is another means to identify substances using retention times, providing an additional dimension of analysis. Broadly, this work examines mass spectrometry of small molecules, with a focus on pharmaceuticals of sports anti-doping relevance. To gain a deeper understanding of characteristic product ions and their dissociation pathways, multi-stage mass spectrometry (MSn) and energy-resolved collision induced dissociation (E-resolved CID) were used. Using these methods, two classes of pharmaceuticals were studied: beta-2 agonists and beta blockers. Sequential versus competitive pathways were elucidated for four beta-2 agonists: isoetharine, salbutamol, formoterol, and salmeterol. Water loss is a common dissociation mechanism, with multiple water losses observed where structurally possible. A similar methodology was used for further investigation of the dissociation chemistry of five beta blockers (labetalol, bisoprolol, carteolol, acebutolol, and atenolol). Insights into the nature of the neutral losses and structures of product ions characteristic to the class are highlighted. Isomers that share product ions pose a special challenge, where differentiation is not possible using single collision energy CID-MS. Three sets of isomers with similar MS/MS patterns (leucine and tert¬-leucine, quinoline and isoquinoline, and para-, ortho-, and meta-aminobenzoic acid) were analyzed by E-resolved CID to investigate the analytical utility of this approach for isomer differentiation. Unique “fingerprints” were found among each set of isomers and additional analytical considerations were also investigated. Finally, separation of enantiomers is another special challenge, as MS techniques are “chirality blind”. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), a gas-phase separation technique, has been reported to show separation of enantiomers with the aid of drift gas modifiers (DGMs). Chiral butanol was used as a DGM to aid the IMS analysis of salbutamol enantiomers. These efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, which is in line with current literature.

In this paper, I seek to determine whether the current ban on performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in professional sport is justified. I look at two of the most common categories of arguments in favor of the ban, which I term the Harm Category and The Nature of Sport Category, and ultimately determine that neither is strong enough to justify the current ban. I determine, however, that a third and less common category of arguments, which I term the Dehumanization Category, provides good reason to justify the ban by appealing to our intuitions about why the use of PEDs in professional sport is wrong.

Background: Sports have a significant impact on people all around the world. Although sport brings a lot of joy, a sense of togetherness, and pride, it also involves ethically difficult issues such as doping. Doping in sports is a growing global concern that jeopardizes sports ethics, values, and integrity (The World Anti-Doping Agency WADA, a). Previous research has mainly approached the topic by understanding athletes’ motivation behind the decision to dope. Hence, there is a growing need to understand athletes’ attitudes and beliefs towards clean sports. Aim: This study aimed to comprehensively understand athletes’ attitudes and beliefs on reaching the top without doping and their beliefs on whether doping affects the results of competitions at the national and international levels. Also, it was examined whether variables such as age, gender, testing history, and sports have any distinguished matter on athletes’ attitudes towards clean sports. Method: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study explored athletes' attitudes and beliefs on clean sports. A total of 73 tested athletes (response rate 14,4%) completed a web-based "Assessments of Doping Control and FINCIS Activities" -survey. Results: In this research, athletes’ age, gender, testing history, and sports did not show any significance concerning athletes' attitudes towards reaching the national and international tops without doping. In the open-ended questions, athletes expressed trust in national-level competitions but had more suspicions about international competitions. Conclusion: The results suggest that the athletes in this research reported positive attitudes and beliefs in competing clean. However, it is challenging to determine whether athletes feel that they need to answer “correctly” and according to the values of clean sports. Therefore, it is important to continue studying athletes’ attitudes and clean sports.

No description available.