Whistleblower 1.0

Summary

Whistleblowing is considered an effective practice in fighting doping and protecting clean sport. However, it is not a common practice yet, and understanding the reasons why athletes decide to engage in this practice is of vital importance for the promotion of this practice as a mean to tackle doping use. Project Whistleblower 1.0 aims to address this gap and utilize evidence from prior behavioral models in doping literature, and identify the psychosocial variables that may lead to engagement into whistleblowing behaviors. Two empirical studies were conducted for this purpose.

Methodology

The first study was a qualitative assessment of athletes’ beliefs about whistleblowing behavior and the key drivers of this behavior. Focus groups were performed in the partner countries, 12 athletes from Greece, 12 from Russia and 9 from the UK aged between 18 and 25 years old took part in semi-structured interviews on the facilitators and deterrents of whistleblowing. The second study was a quantitative assessment of the project’s integrative  model that emphasized the predictors of whistleblowing intentions. 480 competitive  athletes from Greece, 512 from Russia and 171 from the UK completed a survey measuring achievement goals, motivational regulations, sportspersonship orientations, theory of planned behavior variables (i.e., attitudes, subjective and descriptive norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions), situational temptation, anticipated regret and sport identity.

Results

Athletes had limited awareness about whistleblowing procedures and opportunities, such as WADA's Speak Up and IOC's Integrity & Compliance Hotline. In addition, more than half of the athletes had limited knowledge on where and how to safely and effectively report doping misconduct. Furthermore, athletes perceived their coaches to be as the most trustworthy person to report ADRVs and other doping-related misconduct. However, almost all athletes who had witnessed doping misconduct in the past decided not to report it. Participants reported that morality and sustaining the Spirit of Sport would be important reasons to report a doping misconduct, whereas both personal (i.e., negative stance, consequences etc) and social (i.e., knowing the doper, sport culture) reasons identified as deterrents of whistleblowing. Regarding the predictors of intentions to report doping misconduct, a supportive social environment and higher sportspersonship were associated with stronger whistleblowing intentions.

Significance for Clean Sport

The findings of the project provide useful recommendations for policy and practice:

1) Intensify awareness-raising campaigns and educational efforts to teach athletes how to safely and effectively report ADRVs;

2) Emphasize the role of the coach and invest resources in training coaches on whistleblowing matters;

3) Utilize behavioral science and behavior change techniques to empower athletes to report doping misconduct.

4) Develop positive culture and social norms towards whistleblowing in the athletes' micro-environment (e.g., team, coach interaction).

Related Publications

Behaviours and Beliefs Related to Whistleblowing Against Doping in Sport: A Cross-National Study