Doping, performance enhancement and Gender - perspective of the elite athlete – University of Copenhagen

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DEP. OF EXERCISE > Research > Ongoing research > Sport Politics Welfare > PhD PROJECT > MBO Doping

Doping, performance enhancement and Gender - perspective of the elite athlete

The aim of the PhD study is to explore how male and female top level athletes from various sports approach legal and illegal Performance Enhancing Drugs and Methods (PEDM) in sport to clarify gender- and culture specific experiences, practices and attitudes towards use of legal and illegal PEDMs.

The study draws on different sociological and psychological theoretical approaches to explore, understand or explain different topics and research questions. The main theoretical framework is inspired by Pierre Bourdieus' field theory and his concept of habitus. In this framework various theoretical concepts are integrated, e.g. theories of gender, risk, the sociology of the body and specific PEDM decisions models. 

In the project both qualitative and quantitative approaches are applied:

Qualitative approach

  • Approx. 30 semi-structured interviews with top level athletes from four sports (swimming, badminton, cycling and handball)
  • Pilot- and expert interviews with former top level athletes, coaches and other elite sport experts

Quantitative approach

  • A quantitative e-survey with approx. 1000 elite athletes from various sports. 

 

Head of project: Marie Birch Overbye

Supervisor: Gertrud Pfister