Discuss two or more reasons for using drugs in sport.

Refer to the paper 2 markbands when awarding marks.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of two or more reasons for using drugs in sport.

The question is specifically asking about reasons for using drugs in sport. Discussion of addiction or drug abuse is not the focus of the question. Candidates may address both licit and illicit use of drugs in sport. A discussion of blood doping in sport is an appropriate topic for use in a response.

Reasons for using drugs in sport include, but are not limited to:

• improvement of performance
• prolong a career in sport
• more rapid recovery from injury
• stress reduction
• pain reduction
• increase attractiveness
• peer pressure.

Discussion points may include, but are not limited to:

• gender differences
• bi-directionality
• cultural variations
• empirical findings that support or refute the reasons for using drugs in sport.

Relevant research includes, but is not limited to:

• Shermer’s (2008) application of game theory (eg prisoner’s dilemma) to drug usage in sport
• Anshel (1998) on the role of social learning theory in drug use in young athletes
• Whitehead et al. (1992) on steroid use in US male high school students
• Newman and Newman (1991) on the role of conformity in steroid use by Canadian adolescent athletes.

Candidates may discuss two reasons in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss a larger number of reasons in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

If a candidate discusses only one reason, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [5] for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension, up to a maximum of [4] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2] for criterion C, organization.