Stereotypes Concerns Over The Use Of Drugs In Sports

Sport is a major global industry generating billions of dollars in sponsorship, media rights and gambling funds. In recent times, a number of sports have been tarnished by doping scandals. These incidents pose threats to the integrity of sport both nationally and on a global scale. In response, sporting organisations and governments have introduced legislation and accompanying punishments to deter the use of both performance enhancing and recreational drugs. However, it could be argued that effective strategies for combating doping in sport are hindered by a lack of organisational commitment, varying opinions on how the problem should be managed and a lack of reliable information and empirical data to formulate and implement appropriate doping policy. It is timely for sport managers to focus on the topic of doping, as public concerns over the use of drugs in sport cause significant damage to the sports industry, with consequences such as reduced attendance at sporting events, reduced sponsorship and possible impacts on broadcasting rights amongst some of the most pressing concerns.
Various commentators who have examined sport and crime have described numerous examples affecting a broad spectrum of sporting codes in which an unfair advantage has been deliberately sought or collusion has occurred to produce a favourable outcome (Boniface et al. 2012; Gorse & Chadwick 2011; Maennig 2005; Transparency International 2009). In recent decades, this behaviour has seemingly become more commonplace. Corruption in sport is now documented in numerous sporting codes—from recognisable contenders (eg football (soccer), tennis, cricket, thoroughbred and greyhound racing, basketball and baseball) to less obvious targets, such as snooker and