Background: Modern sport is focused on success, generating high-level performance, and crossing physiological barriers. Breaking records and winning is associated with financial benefits but it also raises the social prestige of the athlete. Some competitors try every possible means in order to achieve better results and success in sport, including using doping. This study aims to analyze the opinions and attitudes of elite athletes with disabilities. Methods: Study participants included a group of elite Polish team members competing in international competitions (including Paralympics) in various sports. The research sample consisted of 100 individuals, including 67 men (67%) and 33 women (33%). The descriptive exploratory design used an instrument that combined a validated questionnaire (Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale; PEAS) with a special questionnaire adapted to athletes with disabilities. Results: The overall mean score from the PEAS scale (range, 11-66, with higher scores representing more permissive attitudes towards doping) was 20.61 ± 11.35, with 21.20 ± 10.96 in men, 19.39 ± 12.20 in women, 20.46 ± 10.92 in Paralympians and world championship participants (Masters), and 21.14 ± 13.16 in other competitors. For more than half (58%) of respondents, doping is uncommon in sports, and sports success can be achieved without doping (88%). The vast majority of respondents (90%) do not know people who use doping. Conclusion: The lack of response and hesitation in answers suggest that the respondents did not use doping but also were unaware of doping. Therefore, it seems necessary to implement anti-doping education for athletes with disabilities from the early stages of their sports careers.
© Copyright 2022 Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences. AWF Krakow. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.