Understanding and building clean(er) sport together: Community-based participatory research with elite athletes and anti-doping organisations from five European countries

In this study, we give voice to athletes and explore what ‘clean’ means for them in elite sport. Working together with elite athletes and National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) in five European countries, we investigated the meaning and importance of ‘clean sport’ and ‘clean athlete identity’ from the athletes’ perspectives. With athletes as co-researchers, we conducted focus group interviews involving 82 athletes from Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia and the UK. The results show that clean athlete identity – which is a strong protection against doping and cheating in sport - is a social endeavour, which should be reflected in anti-doping interventions. Athletes’ accounts suggest that clean athlete identity is reinforced, but not created, by values-based (anti-doping) education. Whilst clean athlete identity is universally rooted in upbringing, early experiences and love of sport; definition of clean performance enhancement is highly idiosyncratic. Both problems and solutions in anti-doping were identified as systemic. Participatory research with athletes and stakeholders is a feasible and rewarding avenue for sport organisations with responsibility for anti-doping for athlete involvement.