An examination of football players’ beliefs about anti-doping education

Abstract

The use of doping substances constitutes one of the most significant threats in sport. The present study aimed at examining the beliefs of football players about anti-doping education, as well as their behaviour related to nutritional supplement use and doping use. The sample consisted of 186 football players from sports clubs in Thessaloniki, a city in northern Greece. A self-reported questionnaire, which consisted of five parts, was administered to the football players. The findings revealed limited football players’ prior anti-doping education, which was not associated with their age and years of playing football in a club. However, footballers reported that they would be willing to learn about anti-doping. Online education was considered as the most effective way anti-doping education should be offered. Football players indicated behaviour related to nutritional supplement use that was reflective of a neutral stance, while their behaviour related to doping use was reflective of a negative stance. Their age did not differentiate their behaviour towards both nutritional supplement use and doping use. The worrying lack of knowledge about anti-doping among football players underlines the need for relevant education and prevention programmes. This research demonstrates that focusing on footballers’ beliefs and behaviours related to doping can provide some knowledge that will be useful in the fight against doping.