Examine two or more reasons for using drugs in sport.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.

The command term “examine” requires candidates to consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and relationships of the issue of drug use in sport.

Candidates may address both legal (prescribed painkillers, for example) and illegal (anabolic steroids, for example) use of drugs in sport. A discussion of blood doping in sport is an appropriate topic for use in a response.

The question is specifically asking about reasons for using drugs in sport. Discussion of addiction or drug abuse itself is not the focus of the question. In order to remain focused, candidates must direct their response toward drug use in sport.

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.

Relevant research includes, but is not limited to:

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

Discussion points may include, but are not limited to:

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

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.

If a candidate examines two or more reasons for using drugs in general but not relevant for sport, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension, up to a maximum of [3] for criterion B, critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2] for criterion C, organization.