Doping and Public Health

Doping - the use of performance-enhancing substances - has long been a high-profile issue in sport but in recent years has also become an issue in wider society. This important new book examines doping as a public health issue, drawing on a multi-disciplinary set of perspectives to explore the prevalence, significance and consequences of doping in wider society. It introduces the epidemiology of doping, examines the historical context, and explores the social, behavioural, legal, ethical and political aspects of doping. The book also discusses possible interventions for addressing the problem on organisational and societal levels.

Nader Ahmadi has a Ph.D. in sociology and is Associate Professor and Vice President of the University of Gävle, Sweden. His research has mainly focused on areas such as welfare and social policy, international social work, identity and youth problems, coping strategies among cancer patients, socio-cultural perceptions of the self and gender roles, etc. He has been consultant for the World Bank, UNICEF and the European Commission in many countries such as Russia, Croatia, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia & Herzegovina. He has also been leader of a nation-wide research project on the health problems among the asylum-seeking children in Sweden commissioned by the Swedish Government. Ahmadi has been guest lecturer in India, China and Russia Arne Ljungqvist - medical professor, high jumper and sports manager - has devoted his life to the service of medicine and sports. He managed to become the Swedish champion in high jump as well as participate in the Helsinki 1952 Olympics. Among others he has been Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Cytology, Karolinska Hospital; Pro Rector at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden; President of Swedish Cancer Society; Chairman of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Medical Commission; founder and Vice Chairman of the World Anti-Doping agency (WADA); Chairman of the WADA Health, Medical and Research Committee. In 2014 he received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies at the University of Gävle, Sweden Göran Svedsäter has a Specialization degree in Psychology and Science of Education and is currently Lecturer at the University of Gävle, Sweden. He has been Lectuer and Leader of Research and Development at the Faculty of Education and Health Care Education, Oslo College and Lecturer at the Faculty of Health Care Education, College of Trondheim. He has also been consultant for International Doping Tests & Management (testing activities, recruiting, education and training of international sampling officers). He also has experience as doping control officer for Norwegian Confederation of Sport and as an International doping control officer for several international federations.

Introduction Part 1: The Setting of the Problem 1. The Historical Background Part 2: Social and Behavioural Aspects 2. Doping and Society: Symptom or abuse 3. Doping in Society or Performance Societies 4. Social and Behavioural Science Perspectives on Drug Use in Sport 5. Public Health Work against Doping in Society Part 3: Criminological Aspects 6. Fighting against Trafficking of Doping Substances: An unknown and complex battle 7. The Suppliers of Doping Products and the Peculiar Role of Governing Bodies of Sport Part 4: Legal and Political Aspects 8. Drug-Free Sport and Public Health 9. Adulterated Nutritional Supplements and Unapproved Pharmaceuticals as New Sources of Doping Substances for Fitness and Recreational Sports 10. Public Health Work against Doping in Sport 11. Query and Quest Towards the Improvement of Global Efforts to Tackle the Harm of Doping Part 5: Ethical Aspects 12. Doping the 'Spirit of Sport': A critical interpretation 13. Anti-Doping, the 'Spirit of Sport', and the Public Health Perspective 14. The Ethics of Doping from a Public Health Perspective Part 6: Status and Challenges 15. The Tug of War: From an Olympic sport to an enduring battle between doping and anti-doping in sport