FACTORS AND HEALTH CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH DOPING AMONG CHESS PLAYERS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Doping is a severe problem in sports; many athletes use various substances to promote/enhance their performance without awareness of the side effects. So, this research study assessed the factors responsible for doping among Chess players in Pakistan. The researcher applied a qualitative approach to achieve the desired results/conclusion. The study population comprised all the Chess players of Pakistan; thus, a representative sample using the LRGay (1998) formula was applied. For data collection, the researcher developed a Likert-type scale under the supervision of his research supervisor; thus, validity and reliability were also ensured. For data collection, the developed questionnaire was personally served by the researcher and collected after the respondents filled it out. The collected data were tabulated and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version - 26); thus, suitable statistical tools were applied, and thus, based on analysis, the researcher concluded that social factors like fame, peer pressure, encounter jealousy, fun and mainly responsible factors caused doping among Chess players. Similarly, the researcher concludes that anxiety, stress, fear of Loss, and fear of coach are psychological causative agents of doping. The researcher also concluded that many athletes use drugs/doping to improve stamina, focus and neuromuscular coordination, which is also responsible for doping among athletes. Finally, the researcher also concluded that many athletes are aware of doping and its side effects, but due to the above-stated factors, they are involved in doping