Abstract
International research shows that performance enhancing drugs represent a serious problem both in competitive and leisure sports, affecting adolescent athletes as well. In this paper we present attitudes of Czech adolescents (involved in sport at recreational and performance level, N = 2 526) towards doping and their doping intentions.
The results were gained in frame of the research project "Doping in Czech adolescents: Prevalence, correlates and experiences" supported by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The study was realized in 2014-2016 and included 2 851 adolescents from all regions of the Czech Republic.
Data gained via the questionnaire assessing attitudes toward doping and cheating in sports, doping intentions and doping behavior, we found that 19 % of Czech sporting adolescents were offered doping. We observed relatively low doping intentions within our population; the respondents appeared to be more discouraged by possible health consequences, rather than by moral aspects of doping.
From a psychological perspective, adolescents are especially susceptible to social pressures and expectations regarding results in sport competitions and physical appearance and tend to participate in risky behavior with possible harmful long-term effects. Results showed the necessity of antidoping prevention where the important role is played by the closer adolescents' social environment.