Doping: why some athletes are reluctant to speak out

There are potential social consequences for whistleblower - being shunned, bullied or discredited

New research exploring whistleblowing in sport shows that athletes are generally hesitant to report doping. This is despite the fact that these same athletes are opposed to personally using banned substances.

This hesitation can largely be put down to the fact that whistleblowing on doping presents a true moral dilemma – with two equally valid and demanding moral options. As an athlete, do you report doping behaviour to protect the integrity of sport, or keep quiet to protect the individual’s career, reputation and well-being?

While on the surface reporting doping may seem straightforward, it rarely is. There are often