The ethical beliefs and behaviours of Victorian fitness professionals

A survey based on those employed by Petitpas, Brewer, Rivera, and Van Raalte (1994), Pope, Tabachnick, and Keith-Spiegel (1987), Tabachnick, Keith-Spiegel, and Pope (1991), and Pope and Vetter (1992) was used to investigate the ethical beliefs and behaviours of Victorian fitness professionals. Although there is evidence that Victorian fitness professionals are knowledgeable about some general ethical principles, the results of this study suggest that there is some lack of consensus among Victorian fitness professionals about the ethical appropriateness of a number of complex issues relating to business practices, confidentiality, dual relationships, and personal and professional boundaries. The findings suggest there is a need to improve the professional and ethical education of fitness professionals and to develop comprehensive ethical principles and a code of conduct that is relevant to the individuals working in the Australian fitness profession

Drug Use in Sport: Implications for Public Policy

Many of the models and theories that aim to explain drug use in sport are limited by a focus on individual athlete decision-making that centers on the socioeconomic costs and benefits of using drugs. However, this limitation narrows the debate to how various penalties and sanctions might curb use. The authors suggest that to broaden the debate the investigation should include an exploration of the context in which drug use occurs and a situational diagnosis of the assumptions, values, and beliefs that underpin drug use in sport. To this end, the authors have developed a model of drug use in sport that combines the micro orientation of individual athlete and interpersonal behavior with the macro orientation of sporting context, structure, and culture. They use this contextualized model to contrast a use-reduction policy with a harm-minimization policy that allows sport organizations and athletes to manage their drug use in a safe and secure environment