Doping behaviors and prevention in amateur sport: an update and new perspective

Abstract

Background: Doping is not limited to elite athletes. To reduce doping in sport, it seems important to in uence young athletes in primary prevention. Purpose: Based on previous research, the purpose of this paper is to give an overview on doping behaviors in amateur sport, actual prevention campaigns, and to propose a new perspective in doping prevention. Methods: This mini-review is based on articles published in English and French between 1990 and 2014 retrieved from different databases (i.e., PubMed, Science Direct, Francis, Cairn. Info). In addition, some edited books and chapter books, and recent research reports were used to complete this mini-review. Results: Doping is increasingly important among amateur athletes. To date, traditional doping prevention campaigns are often ineffective. In recent years, a new model of prevention campaigns based on fear, coming from the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian countries, has been used notably in France (e.g., prevention campaigns for road safety, tobacco, alcohol, cancer). Fear-based campaigns have scienti c support and have shown a relatively small but still solid effect on attitudes, intentions and behaviors. Conclusion: The ght against doping would bene t from trying fear-based anti- doping campaigns.