Since the inception of sports, athletes have found ways to manoeuvre their overall performance be it after injury or just to perfect the game. Doping has been defined as the use of banned substances in sports. 

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has set international standards and coordinates anti-doping efforts, including drug testing, for Olympic sport. With that being said, the purpose of this interaction, is to comment about the psychology of doping in sport. 

According to scientific literature, the causes of drug use lie within three categories: physical, psychological and social. Physical causes include to enhance sport performance, weight control and cope with pain and injury rehabilitation. 

Several psychological reasons can promote taking banned drugs. Personal problems may lead an athlete to use drugs. So, drugs may be used to as a coping mechanism to escape from the personal difficulties. Experiences of mental-related issues such as stress and anxiety may causes drug use. Athletes may use drugs to assist them to control undesirable emotions. Also, athletes may use drugs to build confidence. In some instances, the athlete doubts his or her skills. So, they would use drugs to enhance or boast their confidence. The low confidence can be linked to having negative perfectionism.  An example can be an athlete is rarely pleased with their accomplishments regardless of being told that they are performing well. 

Social Causes entails peer pressure and the desire for acceptance more especially for athletes who are just starting out in the field or joining a new team. Hence, it is advisable for team leaders and coaches to outline to athletes the importance of team spirit and picking each other up on the field. It is for that reason that athletes who have a strong need for social approval may use enhancing drugs to gain approval from their friends and thus become socially accepted. Athletes may use drugs to imitate behaviour they have observed. In some instances, they can model a behaviour of a childhood hero or current sport star. 

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) annual report has revealed that it tested 1,584 athletes for 2018/19 year and there were 47 anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs), and three additional cases pending (total of 50 cases). The 1,584 tests represent a decline from the 1,659 in 2017/18. The most tested sport during 2018/19 was athletics with 427, followed by rugby with 342. Rugby had the most ADRVs. These statistics does confirm that doping is a complex issue in the sport fraternity that requires serious consideration.  

Finally, the effectiveness of strategies to prevent drug taking in sport is often made up of multiple approaches. For the purpose of this session, I will focus on psychological approaches which is the cognitive and behavioural strategies.  Cognitive strategies focus on influencing the athlete’s behaviours and attitudes psychologically through verbal and nonverbal communication. 

Provision of education. Here, the aim is to disseminate accurate information about the negative consequences of drug taking. Discuss the ethical implications of using banned drugs in sport. The implications would be disqualification of results at an event or ban from participating in sport. Refer for psychotherapy that can focus on the psychological problems experienced by athletes such as building self-confidence and managing stress and anxiety.  The behavioural approach seeks to shape the environment to control and influence subsequent behaviour.  The strategies include Development and implementation of a drug policy and plan of action and have a continuous random drug-testing program. Also enter into a performance contract, which is a pre-planned agreement between an athlete and the team administration to practice-drug free sportsmanship.