Hull University work to prevent doping in sport
A group of researchers have been awarded funding to tackle the issue and are targeting young athletes.
A team of researchers at the University of Hull are hoping to have a major impact on preventing the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport.
They've been given £135,000 in funding by the International Olympics Committee to run a brand new study to help tackle doping in sport.
They'll be working with young athletes aged between 14 and 18 to prevent them from taking banned substances.
During the project - one group of young sporting stars will get interactive support via an app - while another group will get face-to-face sessions.
It aims to change perceptions among athletes who are on the cusp of the bigtime.
Dr Adam Nicholls, from the university's Sports Coaching department, will lead the project. He told Viking:
“Doping is cheating, it gives athletes an unfair advantage not to mention the fact there are a wealth of health problems associated with taking performance enhancing drugs. The purpose of this research is to get athletes at this age at a time before poor attitudes towards doping are formed.
“We want to show that intervention can be effective in reducing positive attitudes, susceptibility, and intentions to dope. The IOC is putting millions into research into tackling this issue. It is massively worried about this. It is bad for sport.
"Spectators want to know athletes have been competing clean and not that athletes are cheating. And it goes against the values of Olympia.”
Dr Nicholls, who works with elite coaches and performance directors across the globe, says they believe the adolescent age group is one of those most susceptible to performance enhancing drug abuse. He said:
“These are young athletes are aspiring to get to the elite level and are not quite there yet. They are aware there is little testing and they are all aware of the potential drugs out there and where they can get them. At this level when they are very close to the big time, some may see it as a short cut, or a short-cut after injury to get back to the top of their game.”
They'll also be working with coaches across the country and parents of young athletes. Dr Nichols said:
“Outside influences play an important role in determining someone’s attitudes to performance enhancing drugs. High performing athletes spend a lot of their time with their coaches and we know that coaches can have a massive influence in an athletes attitudes to doping in the same way a parent may be able to.”