This paper provides an overview of how key elements of current anti-doping policy have an impact on elite athletes` everyday lives as well as how athletes perceive key policy elements and their implementation. In particular, the aim is to briefly describe and discuss key findings relating to how elite athletes perceive, experience and trust the following key policy elements: (i) the prohibited list of substances; (ii) the TUE system; (iii) the whereabouts-reporting system; (iv) doping testing efforts; and (v) sanctions. In addition, the study identifies whether athletes` responses vary among athletes of different gender, age and type of sport, as well as whether (and, if so, how and when) other factors such as personal experience of certain policy measures has an effect on how athletes perceive or experience these measures. To explore these questions, the presentation combines the key findings of a larger study assessing, among other things, elite athletes` perceptions of doping and anti-doping efforts, in particular the findings of a web based questionnaire emailed to Danish elite athletes (N = 645; mean age: 22.12, SD = 5.82; response rate 43%) (Overbye, 2013). From this study, particularly relevant unpublished as well as published findings (Overbye, 2013; Overbye & Wagner 2013, 2014; Elbe & Overbye, 2014; Overbye et al., 2013, 2015) have been selected for the presentation. The results are discussed in relation to current policy and focus on elite athletes` experience of, attitudes to and trust in anti-doping efforts regarding the key policy elements. Overall, the results show some ambivalent attitudes towards the system, which can be described (in a simplified way) as the combination of, on the one hand, great support for anti-doping measures/efforts in elite sport and, on the other hand, some unintended consequences when policies are implemented, such as negative emotions or experiences for some elite athletes in their daily lives, a low level of trust in the harmonisation of the WADA Code and the efficacy of anti-doping measures across the world. However, each key `policy element` has its own purpose and faces different challenges; thus, these elements vary in their levels of support and trust, differ in their (positive or negative) impact, and have an effect on a varying number of athletes. More detailed results concerning these specific issues are presented at the conference. Thus, the study outlines positive and negative effects of as well as challenges for key policy elements, e.g. by identifying elite athletes` levels of support and trust besides their experiences and perceptions of anti-doping measures, while simultaneously identifying whether, or to what extent, certain policy elements seem to have unintended consequences for specific groups of athletes. Implications of the results as well as recommendations are outlined in the presentation.
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