We all stand accused in the fight against ‘doping’ among young South African rugby players

Abstract

Doping in sport is a global phenomenon with high levels of prevalence among Rugby Union players. This research is underpinned by a Bioecological and dispositionalist-contextual conception of socialisation to explore the ‘doping behaviours’ of young rugby players in South Africa. Qualitative data emanated from the thematic analysis of case studies between 2011 and 2022 featuring 14 detailed records, and interviews conducted with 14 representatives of coaches, players, medical staff, the South African Institute of Drug-free Sport (SAIDS) and a senior member of the rugby players’ union. Nine themes emerged from the analysis of the two qualitative data sets. These are: (i) a competitive sport environment causing stress and the continuous pressure to perform optimally; (ii) player vulnerable evidenced in their accessibility and disposition for external influences; (iii) supplementation as key to performance, endurance and recovery in addition to medication as needed; (iv) the obsession with size and masculinity; (v) knowledge and exposure to anti-doping education; (vi) the strict liability clause in the World Anti-Doping (WADA) 2021 Code; (vii) surveillance in terms as part of SAIDS’ regulatory and compliancy mandate, in addition to whistleblowing and strategic testing in high risk sports; (viii) personal and sport-related values inherent in the ethos of rugby; and (ix) holism in approach and action. It was apparent that neither the regulatory agency nor medical staff could take sole responsibility to combat a ‘dopogenic environment’. Societal values and individual circumstances translate in different ways of how individuals act and make decisions as life-spheres inter-related in a plethora of ways. There is a dire need for all stakeholders to collaborate and ensure meaningful education in chartering a holistic approach for player development.