Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitudes on Doping By Football Athletes, Coaches and Sponsors in Malawi
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Date
2019-07
Authors
Kaoche, John Mpondova Chilima
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Knowledge and attitude on the use of performance enhancing substances among athletes
are important aspects in the fight against doping in sports . This study determined
kno wledge and attitudes of football athletes, coaches and sponsors on doping in Malawi.
It established reported prevalence of the use of performance enhancing substances among
football athletes, assessed knowledge of football athletes, coaches and sponsors and
examined their attitu des respectively. It respectively determined whether there was an
association between selected demographic factors of football athletes, coaches and
sponsors and their knowledge and attitudes on the use of performance enhancing
substances in football in M alawi . The study targeted 450 footba ll athletes, 45 coaches, 15
team sponsors and 8 competition sponsors in Malaw i. Football clubs for athletes and
coaches were randomly sampled in the citie s of Blantyre and Lilongwe. 240 athletes and
24 coaches attached to the sampled football clubs participated in the study. Sponsors (15)
o f football were purpos ive ly sampled from the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe. Using
the cross section survey design, the selected athletes, coaches and sponsors responded to
self re ported structured questionnaires. The obtained data was analysed using Pearson
Chi Square, One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Post Hoc Tukeys’ HSD in the
Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS 20). The study found that participants had
hig h (73.4%) m edium (20.8%) and low (5.8%) levels of knowledge on the use of
performance enhancing substances. Athletes, coaches and s ponsors had negative attitude
towards doping. Association existed between knowledge and age of athletes ; athletes p
<0 001), coaches p 0.006) and sponsors ( p 0 .012); experience of athletes p <0.001) and
sponsors ( p 0.012) on doping. Association further existed between the attitude and age of
athletes ; athletes p 0.001); education of at hletes (p 0.001) and sponsors ( p 0.025) on
dopi ng and experience of the athletes ( p <0 .001) and sponsors p <0.001) towards
doping. T here were significant differences in knowledge on doping drugs between
athletes (20.76 3.35) and coaches (18.54 7.56) and between athletes (20.76 3.35) and
sponsors (21.40 6.95) p 0 01. There were significant differences in attitude between
coaches (14.58 1.13) and sponsors (12.13 3.50), p . 003. The significant differences in
knowledge existed between athletes and coaches (2.22; p 0.011) and coaches and
sponsors (2.86; p 0.042). Further significant differences in attitudes on doping existed
between footbal l coaches and sponsors (3.47; p 0.003). It is recommended that Malawi
Government should formulate deliberate policy that will be used to fight ag ainst doping
in football in Malawi. Athletes, coaches and sponsors need to be engaged in awareness
programmes on doping for them to acquire more knowledge. Malawi Anti Doping
Organisation needs to design a website where athletes can obtain information on doping.
Further studies are required on doping in junior football with emphasis on gender and its
socioeconomic impact in Malawi.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Master of Science (Recreation and Sports Management) In the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Studies of Kenyatta University. July, 2019