Social Science Perspectives on Anti-Doping Research
Thursday 7th September 9:00–10:45, Ag Beeta
Effective anti-doping work can only be carried out when there is an understanding of the phenomenon, of athlete behaviors and of the social and environment factors that influence athlete behaviors. The session will present past and present social science research as well as future research needs.
The session is organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS). It will be chaired by Marko Kananen, research manager, FINCIS.
Presentations
Prevalence of doping use as a measure of effective doping policies
Olivier de Hon, Chief Operating Officer, Doping Authority Netherlands
Observations on anti-doping research and prevention in Finland
Mikko Salasuo, Adjunct Professor, University of Helsinki
Overview of International Anti-Doping Research and Information Needs
Tony Cunningham, Head of Research and Policy, Education, WADA
Speakers introductions
Olivier de Hon, Chief Operating Officer, Doping Authority Netherlands
Olivier de Hon is Chief Operating Officer at the official National Anti-Doping Organisation of the Netherlands, ‘Dopingautoriteit’. He is an anti-doping professional since 1998 working an various projects, ranging from the health effects of doping substances, performance enhancing substances in mind sports, gene doping, prohibited substances in nutritional supplements, to the prevalence of doping. He successfully defended his PhD-thesis called ‘Striking the Right Balance – Effectiveness of Anti-Doping Policies’ at Utrecht University, the Netherlands in 2016. He is a member of WADA’s Working Group on the Prevalence of Doping. He is an occasional volunteer guide of the Olympic Stadium in his hometown Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Mikko Salasuo, Adjunct Professor, University of Helsinki
Mikko Salasuo is a docent of economic and social history at the University of Helsinki. For more than 25 years, he has researched, among other things, the use of drugs and prevention, as well as the use of doping substances outside of elite sports. Salasuo was involved in the design of the doping link service and is responsible for doping-related questions in the national substance abuse survey.
Tony Cunningham, Head of Research and Policy, Education, WADA
Tony Cunningham joined WADA in 2013. He now oversees the social science research program and education policy as part of the WADA Education Department. He is responsible for implementing the Social Science Research Strategy in cooperation with WADA’s Social Science Research Expert Advisory Group. Before joining WADA, Tony was Head of Performance Planning with Sport Ireland (formerly Irish Sports Council) where he coordinated the funding program in close cooperation with the Irish Institute of Sport and Olympic National Federations. He has an MSc in Applied Social Science Research and an Executive Masters in Sport Organization Management (MEMOS). He is currently pursuing a Professional Doctorate, investigating the impact of research programs. He is a passionate sports person, playing and coaching in the sports of Gaelic Football and Hurling.