Cardiff School of Sport DISSERTATION ASSESSMENT PROFORMA: Theoretical / Conceptual (Including: Desk-Based, Secondary Data, Meta-Analysis) 1 Student name: Lewis Morgan Jones Student ID: ST10001016 Programme: SPE The media coverage of athletes’ perceptions on performance enhancing drugs Dissertation title: in the Olympics. Supervisor: Kieran Kingston Comments Section Title and Abstract Title to include: A concise indication of the research question/problem. Abstract to include: A concise summary of the theoretical study undertake. Extended Introduction 2 To include: outline of context for the question; clear articulation and justification of the research question; indication of research expectations. Research Methods/Process 2 1 This form should be used to assess Theoretical/Conceptual dissertations. The descriptors associated with Theoretical/Conceptual dissertations should be referred to by both students and markers. 2 There is scope within CONCEPTUAL/THEORETICAL dissertations for the EXTENDED INTRODUCTION and RESEARCH METHODS/PROCESS sections to be presented as a combined section, particularly where matters of REPLICABILITY of the study are not central. The mark distribution to be used in studies of this kind is indicated in parentheses. To include: justification of a secondary data collection approach; justification of inclusion and exclusion criteria and any search parameters utilised; process/procedure adopted; clear articulation and justification for the structure and development of the study. Critical Review 2 To include: a synthesised academic exposition and evaluation of: - factually relevant data - conceptual understanding(s) - theoretical account(s) - established line(s) of argument in relation to the research question(s)/problem posed by the study; logical structural divisions that evidence appropriate and thorough development in critical analysis; reasoned enquiry progressing towards the formation of a justified position in relation to the research question(s)/problem posed by the study. Explicit Summary To include: explicit presentation of position concluded from the study; discussion of the limitations and a critical reflection of the approach/process/ procedure adopted in the study; an indication of any potential improvements and future developments derived on completion of the study; an insight into any implications and a conclusion which summarises the relationship between the research question and the major findings. Presentation (To include: academic writing style; depth, scope and accuracy of referencing in the text and final reference list; clarity in organisation, formatting and visual presentation). CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Prifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd CARDIFF SCHOOL OF SPORT DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) SPORT & PHYSICAL EDUCATION THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ATHLETE’S PERCEPTIONS OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS IN THE OLYMPICS (Dissertation submitted under the discipline of PSYCHOLOGY) LEWIS MORGAN JONES ST10001016 NAME: LEWIS MORGAN JONES STUDENT NUMBER: ST10001016 CARDIFF SCHOOL OF SPORT CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ATHLETE’S PERCEPTIONS ON PERFORMING ENHANCING DRUGS IN THE OLYMPICS Cardiff Metropolitan University Prifysgol Fetropolitan Caerdydd Certificate of student By submitting this document, I certify that the whole of this work is the result of my individual effort, that all quotations from books and journals have been acknowledged, and that the word count given below is a true and accurate record of the words contained (omitting contents pages, acknowledgements, indices, tables, figures, plates, reference list and appendices). Word count: 11,982 Date: 20/03/13 Certificate of Dissertation Supervisor responsible I am satisfied that this work is the result of the student’s own effort. I have received a dissertation verification file from this student Name: Date: Notes: The University owns the right to reprint all or part of this document. Contents Acknowledgements................................................................................................. i Abstract.................................................................................................................. ii 1.0 Introduction....................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Drugs in Sport................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Policy................................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Testing.............................................................................................................. 6 2.3 Policy................................................................................................................ 7 3.0 Drugs and the Olympics.................................................................................. 11 3.1 History of drug use.......................................................................................... 11 3.2 Timeframe 1960-1988..................................................................................... 12 3.3 Pre Olympic coverage regarding drugs.......................................................... 14 4.0 Major cases of drugs cheats’.......................................................................... 17 4.1 Lance Armstrong............................................................................................. 17 4.2 David Millar..................................................................................................... 19 4.3 Dwayne Chambers......................................................................................... 19 4.4 Athlete’s Perceptions...................................................................................... 20 5.0 Current Testing............................................................................................... 29 5.1 Cheats are to blame for doping accusations................................................... 31 6.0 Discussion....................................................................................................... 36 6.1 Policy.............................................................................................................. 36 6.2 Continuing Issues........................................................................................... 38 6.3 Moving forward............................................................................................... 39 7.0 Conclusion...................................................................................................... 42 References............................................................................................................ 43 Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my dissertation supervisor Kieran Kingston for continually providing me with guidance and support throughout the year. His knowledge and expertise has significantly assisted the direction of my study and his contribution has been greatly appreciated. i Abstract The objective of this study was to scrutinize the media coverage of elite athletes’ perceptions on performance enhancing drugs in sport and the Olympics. The interest was to gain an understanding of whom and why certain athletes have been doping, and also how the top level athletes feel about this delicate subject combined with the view of the public. The majority of the research was obtained from media coverage around the time period of the London 2012 Olympics so a major section of this study will discuss the issues around high profile athletes such as Lance Armstrong, David Millar, Dwayne Chambers and the BOA’s lifting of the lifetime ban. The aim of this study was to develop an up to date account on the progressing issue of doping in sport by using elite performers’ perceptions of drugs combined with major anti-doping organisations’ policies to prevent this expanding predicament. This review has been constructed in the optimism that it can be used as a movement contributing to the battle against doping in sport. It is the belief that combining studies that are in relation to this review could develop a fundamental case to facilitate enhancements towards the actions taken against drugs in sport. This could then lead to considerable improvements for the future and hopefully eradicate doping once and for all. ii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.0 Introduction The intention of this study is to examine the media coverage of athlete’s perceptions on performance enhancing drugs in the Olympics. The research conducted in this study is relevant in the context of the Sport and PE degree being undertaken by the researcher and the discipline this study falls under is Sports Psychology. Performance enhancing drugs has been an expanding issue in sport since the late 1950’s and there have been numerous opinions for and against this matter. The news of the world continuously portrays indignation of elite athlete’s getting discredited and sanctioned in their sport. For example during the 1998 Tour de France, Richard Williams wrote in the Guardian that doping is generally felt to be the worse of sporting crimes (Guardian, 1 August 1998). This view is extensively collective by both people inside and outside sport as Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe implied that doping is considered to be the most shameful abuse of the Olympic ideal. Coe calls for the life ban of offending athletes, coaches and the so-called doctors who administer this iniquity (see Donohoe