This article aims to describe and analyse how female doping users discuss their doping practices and interact with other community members in an online forum. The article analyses women’s narratives and how these relate to hegemonic gender configurations as regards doping and the doped female body. Analytically, the concept of hegemonic masculinity is used to approach notions of doped bodies and to investigate how women meet and possibly resist dominant gender hierarchies through doping use. The article utilises a netnographic approach to the research and data is based on discussion threads started by 45 women on a Swedish website and forum called Flashback. The results show how women entering the forum are encouraged to present their doping experiences and trajectories following a certain template through which lifestyle choices, diet, bodily ambitions, and more are explicitly addressed. Even though following the template and thereby using the correct and culturally accepted form for communication, the content is valued on the basis of hegemonic conceptualisations and understandings, which in itself results in women’s rationales and goals often being downplayed by male commentators. Accordingly, the women’s chances of establishing a space within the community, as fully accepted members, are limited. The women describe how their doping narratives are challenged based on their being women, in a way that has no equivalent for male members. In response to such criticism, some women decide to opt out of the forum, while others respond to the criticisms directed toward women, challenging the heteronormative and masculine hegemony. 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17430437.2022.2064107?needAccess=true

’I’m quite tired of people saying that I don’t do enough or know anything’: male hegemony and resistance in the context of women’s online communication on doping

Despite the efforts of anti-doping agencies to control doping in sport, the use of performance enhancing substances (PES) and methods remains an intractable issue. Potentially heightening the problem is the emergence of the darknet which provides an anonymous online method for obtaining PES. Despite numerous investigations of PES availability via the regular internet, there is currently little understanding of their availability on the darknet. The aim of this study was to conduct a descriptive analysis of the availability, quantity, cost, and forms of substances included in the 2021 WADA International Standard Prohibited List that are for sale within darknet markets within a 12-week period. A search of substances that are included on the prohibited list was conducted across various darknet trading locations. The search revealed multiple anabolic agents; peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics; hormone and metabolic modulators; and diuretic and masking agents available for purchase on the darknet. The search also revealed the costs, the form (pills, injectables, gels), and available quantities of PES. Given the breadth of products available, it was concluded that the procurement of PES via the darknet presents anti-doping agencies with a novel and challenging problem. Anti-doping agencies and law enforcement could develop strategies to monitor darknet activities and consult cybercrime experts as a part of their toolkit for enforcing anti-doping behaviours. Further research investigating darknet activity of athletes and support personnel is required. 

An analysis of the sports performance enhancing substances available on the darknet

There is a growing public concern about the increasing use of performance enhancing drugs (doping) in sport, exercise and fitness activities. Research has been carried out to answer the question “Why do exercising young people use performance enhancing drugs?” The explanations of most quantitative researches are based on bivariate statistical analysis. But there are reasons to believe that one factor or motive is not suffice to explain such a complex and stigmatized behaviour. More probably, there may be clusters of psychological and societal, more or less hidden, reasons behind such behaviour. This study uses EFA (exploratory factor analysis) and combines sets of variables, in order to reveal hidden factors or patterns in the empirical data. Our study indicates that this kind of doping use should be interpreted within a social context where youths struggle with their lives, making sense of societal demands and expectations, using the “tools” they find fitting, and make their choices meaningful and functional. In other words, doping has something to do with muscles, self-presentation and meaning trying to build identities in a world where the body is the main symbol of value and morality.

Hidden patterns behind doping use among Norwegians 18-19 years old

Background Doping is a societal problem associated with health problems, violence, and other crimes, especially when combined with alcohol and drugs. Elite, as well as recreational athletes who exercise in gyms may use doping to enhance their performance and/or improve their appearance. According to Swedish law, manufacturing, selling, supplying, possessing, and using anabolic androgenic steroids and growth hormones is forbidden. Exceptions apply if these substances are used for medical purposes and prescribed by doctors. As doping is illegal, the police authority is vital in counteracting doping. Aim We aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to effective doping prevention at gyms by examining police officers' views on doping as a societal problem, their experiences of doping prevention efforts, and their perceptions on what enables or hinders doping prevention. Methods Interviews with police officers (n = 15) were conducted from December 2021 to May 2022. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A targeted content analysis of the material was performed. Results Facilitators for effective doping prevention involving the police included the recognition of doping as a societal problem; mobilization of key actors; motivated police management and officers; adequate resource allocation; collaboration between the police, gyms, and other relevant authorities; and skills development for police and other professions. Barriers to effective doping prevention included a lack of knowledge about doping, time-consuming processes around the detection and collection of evidence in doping offenses, and competing tasks for police officers. Conclusion Doping prevention should become more efficient by taking advantage of existing facilitators and removing remaining barriers. This study could guide recommendations linked to the police organization and the surrounding society regarding doping prevention.

Facilitators and barriers in preventing doping among recreational athletes: A qualitative interview study among police officers

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of performance- and image-enhancing substances (PIES) use, and factors related to this, among a representative sample of the general Swedish population aged 16–25. We used a quantitative cross-sectional self-report design to examine prevalence and possible relationships between PIES use and socio-demographics, physical activity, attitudes towards muscle building and doping, friends’ use, body image, and body modification. Approximately 12% of the respondents reported that they used or had used PIES. A logistic regression analysis pointed out the importance of the social context – friends who used PIES, how body image affected social life, and how others viewed one's body – as more important factors for using PIES than attitudes towards muscle building and doping. Taken together, these results indicate a need to pay attention to the use of PIES among young people as a potential public health problem.

Göran Svedsäter

Papers

Performance and image enhancing substance use among young people in Sweden