Sports Science and Efforts towards Sub-Two Hour Marathon Performance

Performance in different athletic activities has continued to improve over time, with some athletes from diverse parts of the world registering new world records from time to time. With stiff competition from athletes from different parts of the world, constant upgrading of sports science based approaches to training and competition are employed to achieve more success. However, some approaches used to improve sports performance may pose ethical concerns and may challenge sports as a concept of celebrating natural human abilities. This book chapter interrogates the factors associated with efforts towards improvement of performance in endurance sports events, with a specific focus on marathon races, and the future implications for training, competition, and the nature of sports. While the interplay between nature and nurture determines the unique psychophysiological responses to training and competition, technological exploits leading to advanced sports products coupled with favourable natural and/or manipulated internal (body) and external environmental conditions will ensure continued improvement in performance. However, there is a need to censor commercial interest as well as safeguard safety and the nature of sports as a medium to celebrate natural human abilities

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions on doping among university students in physical education and sport science related degree programmes

Doping cases have in the recent past (second decade of 21st century) tainted the Kenyan athletes’ dominance in long distance running. The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) on doping among university students pursuing sport related courses. It was postulated that KAP on doping will be mediated by year of study, age, gender, sporting experience and degree programme. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires from university students (n=179) drawn from four universities that offer sport-related courses in Kenya. Results revealed that there were significant differences between year of study (first vs fourth) in knowledge on performance enhancing substance (PES) (Mean Ranks; 68.16 vs 94.22, p=.013) and perceptions about doping (109.98 vs 86.14, p=.023). Sport Science and Health Promotion students showed significantly higher scores on attitudes towards doping (p=.003) than those in Physical Education courses. There were significant differences (p < .05) in KAP on doping in favour of those students who had previous participation in sport competitions. It is concluded that KAP of university students on doping is differentiated based on the selected variables of year and programme of study, and previous participation in sport competitions. It is recommended that the unpacking of doping education should take these variables into consideration. Universities need to partner with anti-doping agencies to expose students to both theoretical and practical applications of doping knowledge. Further investigation in needed on the possible factors that contribute to less negative perceptions with higher knowledge on doping among university students

Influence of achievement goals and motivational climate on attitudes toward doping among East African university athletes

Doping cases among East African athletes have been reported in the past few years, jeopardizing their international reputation. Pro-doping behaviours in sports can be assessed using Achievement Goal Theory (AGT) which proposes that goal orientation and motivational climate influence attitudes and behaviours. This study examined the relationships among East African university athletes’ achievement goal orientations, perceived coach-created motivational climate and attitudes towards doping in sports. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 327 student-athletes during the 2016 East African University Sport Championships. Athletes’ doping attitudes were assessed using a modified Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS). The athletes’ perception of success or achievement goal orientation in sports was assessed through the Task and Ego Goal Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEGOSQ), while their perceptions of coach motivational climate were assessed using an adapted version of the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire (PMCSQ). Based on responses to a five-point Likert scale, results yielded the following: doping attitude scale (Mean =2.14 ± 0.73), Ego orientation (Mean = 3.77 ± 0.86), Task orientation (Mean = 4.41 ± 0.87) and Performance motivation climate (Mean = 2.59 ± 0.89). About 71% (229) of the respondents were least likely to dope, while 29% (94) had high likelihood of engaging in future doping behavior. Binary logistical regression analysis showed that Performance motivation climate had the most significant unique contributions to attitudes towards doping (χ2 = 6.35; p = .012). Fostering performance motivation climate during coaching and deemphasising task orientation in sports could promote athletes’ inclination towards doping.Keywords: Ego orientation, goal orientation, performance motivational climat