This book examines the bodies, communities, and cultures that evolve in different online doping spaces. By engaging in critical analysis of the interrelatedness of online and offline doped realities, the book provides a comprehensive analysis influenced by digital sociology and feminist theory. It focuses on the intersection of doping, bodies, and technology, and is structured around three interconnected themes prominent in doping research but less acknowledged in online environments: doping spaces and communities; gender and power relationships; and the relationship between online activities and offline social life. Building on extensive online research with different drug communities and doping spaces, the authors illustrate how the online world of doping has developed into a digital ecosystem, and present an argument for understanding doping as a cyborgified concept. It will be of interest to students and researchers of sport and digital sociology, media studies, social work, drug studies and gender studies

This book compiles several years of multi-faceted qualitative research on fitness doping to provide a fresh insight into how the growing phenomenon intersects with issues of gender, body and health in contemporary society. Drawing on biographical interviews, as well as online and offline ethnography, Andreasson and Johansson analyse how, in the context of the global development of gym and fitness culture, particular doping trajectories are formulated, and users come into contact with doping. They also explore users’ internalisation of particular values, practices and communications and analyse how this influences understandings of the self, health, gender and the body, as well as tying this into wider beliefs regarding individual freedom and the law. This insight into doping goes beyond elite and organised sports, and will be of interest to students and scholars across the sociology of sport, leisure studies, and gender and body politics.

Behind the fame of big-time sports lies a complex web of controversy and deceit. Doping—the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to gain a competitive athletic edge—is common in many sports. While doping can improve performance, it poses huge risks for athletes' health and careers. Some of the world's top athletes, from cyclist Lance Armstrong to professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez, have seen their images tarnished by doping scandals. Still, the pressure to win and high financial stakes drive many athletes to PEDs. Award-winning author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson uncovers the shadowy world of athletes who dope, the people and organizations that help them, and the scientists and officials committed to stopping them.

Doping in Sport and Fitness argues that rigid differentiations between doping contexts are less clear than it might seem. Breaking down these boundaries allows for a more complete understanding of substance use patterns, behaviours, and policy responses related to sport, fitness, and society.

The issue of doping has been the most widely discussed problem in sports ethics and is one of the most prominent issues across sports studies, the sports sciences and their constituent disciplines. This book adds uniquely to that catalogue of discourses by focusing on extant anti-doping policy and doping practices from a range of multi-disciplinary perspectives (specifically ethical, legal, and social scientific). With contributions from a world-class team of scholars and legal practitioners from the UK, Europe and North America, the book explores key contemporary issues such as: sports medicine international doping policy the whereabouts system the criminalization of doping privacy rights, gene doping and ethics imperfection in doping test procedures steroid use in the general population. Doping and Anti-Doping Policy in Sport offers an important critique of contemporary anti-doping policy and is essential reading for any advanced student, researcher or policy maker with an interest in this vital issue.

Doping – the use of performance-enhancing substances and methods – has long been a high-profile issue in sport but in recent years it has also become an issue in wider society. This important new book examines doping as a public health issue, drawing on a multi-disciplinary set of perspectives to explore the prevalence, significance and consequences of doping in wider society. It introduces the epidemiology of doping, examines the historical context, and explores the social, behavioural, legal, ethical and political aspects of doping. The book also discusses possible interventions for addressing the problem on organisational and societal levels. Doping and Public Health incorporates the latest research to provide a comprehensive guide to the key aspects of doping as a social phenomenon. Divided into six parts, this collection of studies offers detailed insight into: ideals of health and fitness in today’s society reasons behind the use of doping medical and social consequences of doping the importance of a doping-free society challenges to the detection and prevention of doping the global anti-doping movement. This book is a valuable resource for sport students, instructors and sport professionals, and will also be of interest to educators and policy-makers working in the areas of health, criminology, sociology and law.

Drug use and abuse is perhaps the biggest challenge facing sport today. However, in the eye of the storm of public and press opinion and with medals and morals at stake, it can be difficult to gain a clear perspective on this complex issue. Now available in a fully updated and revised sixth edition Drugs in Sport is the most comprehensive and accurate text available on the subject. Taking into account the latest regulations, methods and landmark cases, the book explores the hard science behind drug use in sport as well as the ethical, social, political and administrative context. Key topics include: Mode of action and side effects of each major class of drugs used in sport Discussion of cutting-edge issues such as gene doping and athlete biological passports The latest doping control regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Issues surrounding non-prohibited substances and ergogenic aids in supplements Medical and pharmaceutical services at major sporting events An assessment of the prevalence of drug taking in sport Accessibly written, extensively referenced, and supported throughout with illustrative case studies and data, Drugs in Sport provides a comprehensive, objective resource for students and researchers, athletes, sports scientists and coaches, journalists, sports administrators and policymakers.