APPLIED COACHING RESEARCH JOURNAL 2021 , Vol . 7
Are there any particular risk factors that coaches should be aware of ? Doping is caused by a complex interaction of individual and environmental factors . These range from a lack of knowledge around the rules and the availability of information / resources , to perceptions that others are doping , that they can ’ t achieve their goals without doping , and athletes finding themselves in particularly challenging situations ( eg injury , dips in performance , career transitions ). Notably , there is strong evidence that athletes holding a powerful ‘ clean ’ identity are less likely to dope . But this must be supported by significant others who also value clean sport – and actively and consistently communicate this . This is why I think coaches have the potential to be really important in anti-doping efforts .
Where can I go to access more information in relation to clean sport to help me support my participants ? I have recently worked closely with UK Coaching to develop some resources on clean sport , if people would like to know more about
the rules and what they can do as a coach to
support their participants . We have also provided some advice on how to approach dietary
supplements and
medications , in particular – because , in the UK , these are two of the main causes of ADRVs .
The
UK Anti-Doping website is a great resource , as they have their Coach Clean course and Advisor course available ( free of charge ). And the World Anti-Doping Agency also has free
resources that coaches can use themselves or signpost their participants towards .
Lastly , I think it is useful for coaches to find out who is the best point of contact for them , in their context , if they have questions related to anti-doping . Most national governing bodies have a designated person responsible for providing up-to-date information . But if coaches can ’ t find this person – or they don ’ t feel comfortable speaking to them – they can contact
UK Anti-Doping directly using the details provided on their website .
Dr Laurie Patterson is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology within the School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University . Her principal research interest is investigating ( anti- ) doping behaviour among athletes and athlete support personnel , to inform effective anti-doping practice , programmes and policy . Much of Laurie ’ s work , including her doctoral research , has focused on investigating the role of coaches in anti-doping efforts , and the factors that influence this . This research currently involves the development of an International Framework for Coach Anti-Doping Education ( IFCADE ), which will provide sporting and anti-doping organisations across the globe with guidance for developing , implementing and evaluating their coach anti-doping provision .
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