Gender Differences in Anti-Doping Rule Violations Based on a 19-Year Data Analysis from the Serbian Anti-Doping...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Doping Control
• Public Health

Background:

• International research indicates gender differences in anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs).
• Systematic analyses of these differences, particularly in specific national contexts, remain infrequent.
• This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of doping prevalence by gender in Serbia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first comprehensive evaluation of doping prevalence by gender in Serbia.
• To analyze gender-specific patterns in anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs).
• To identify differences in substance profiles between male and female athletes in Serbia.

Main Methods:

• A 19-year retrospective quantitative analysis of data from the Anti-Doping Agency of Serbia (ADAS) from 2006 to 2024.
• Analysis of 14,919 doping controls, comprising 10,912 (73.11%) on male athletes and 4007 (26.89%) on female athletes.
• Statistical analysis, including Chi-Square test, to determine the association between gender and ADRVs.

Main Results:

• A total of 146 anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) were identified, with a significant gender imbalance: 128 (87.32%) in males and 18 (12.68%) in females.
• A Chi-Square test confirmed a significant association between gender and ADRVs (χ²(1, N = 14,919) = 15.11, p < 0.001).
• Distinct substance profiles were observed: anabolic agents (S1) were most common overall; stimulants (S6) and cannabinoids (S8) were more frequent in males; diuretics (S5) and hormone modulators (S4) were more frequent in females.

Conclusions:

• Significant gender disparities exist in doping behavior and substance choice among Serbian athletes.
• Findings underscore the need for gender-sensitive anti-doping education and policy development.
• This study provides a foundational dataset for further research into gender-specific doping patterns.