title: Antidoping attitudes among elite athletes: a cross sectional study in biathlon using a suitably developed questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The attitude of athletes towards antidoping interventions was surveyed among biathletes by a properly developed questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Topics and items were identified by a multidisciplinary team. A demographics and an awareness sections exploring respondents' characteristics and knowledge of the antidoping rules were added. The anonymous, self-administered tool was distributed to athletes during two international events. Two hundred forty-four biathletes participated in the survey. The structure of the questionnaire, determined by factor analysis, included three domains: safety (items N.=12) acceptance (N.=11), and satisfaction (N.=13) exploring respectively the perceived protection from cheating, the acceptance of the limitations on daily activities imposed by the antidoping interventions and the satisfaction with antidoping rules and actions. The domain scores and a general antidoping attitude score were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire, which displayed construct validity (r=0.500, P<0.001), good internal consistency (α=0.82) and significant acceptable test-retest reliability (k=0.59), revealed a good antidoping attitude (general score: 64.9/100±8.8) and in relation to each domain a satisfaction of athletes with antidoping interventions (65.3±13.6), good acceptance of the related restrictions (70.1±10.9), and concerns about safety (59.5±11.9), which was the lowest scoring domain (P<0.001). The degree of awareness, differently from age and gender, influenced the antidoping attitude score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new questionnaire revealed a positive mood of biathletes towards antidoping interventions, pointed out their necessity of protection from cheating and highlighted the positive influence of awareness of the rules on antidoping attitude. The questionnaire is not sport-specific, which allows any international federation to evaluate the impact of antidoping strategies on athletes.
authors.affiliation: Section of Sport Sciences, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.affiliation: Unit of Translational Surgery, University Hospital of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy - mlgnmr@unife.it.|International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malagoni
authors.affiliation: Esercizio Vita ONLUS, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Felisatti
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurological, Psychiatric and Psychological Sciences, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Resch
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Litmanen
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalfollo
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeannier
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhukovskaja
authors.affiliation: International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Carrabre
authors.affiliation: Section of Sport Sciences, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.|International Biathlon Union, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manfredini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004300:Doping in Sports; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult