The International Network of Humanistic Doping Research (INHDR) invites abstract submissions for consideration for the 2015 conference to be held at Aarhus University, Denmark on 27-28 August. Abstracts should be between 350-500 words and include author(s), title, and demonstrate some relation to the conference theme. Authors from any field are encouraged to present research, but the research should relate to questions in the humanities or social sciences. Abstracts should be submitted by April 1st, 2015 via the INHDR online submission system. See instructions in the full ‘Call for Papers’ for using the INHDR online submission system.
The conference theme is
Evaluating the unintended effects of anti-doping
In the 15 years since the formation of the World Anti-Doping Agency, few would dispute that anti-doping efforts have changed sport. Many of these changes, such as increased testing and anti-doping education, were intended and their effects have, for the most part, been examined and evaluated. However, what have received less attention are the many unintended effects of anti-doping. Athletes now live with the stress of managing the whereabouts system and worrying about contaminated supplements and food. Journalists report on events but are aware that it could be months or years until we know who was declared the actual victor. Governments enact laws that criminalize doping and investigate athletes for sporting infractions.
Hence this conference aims to investigate, evaluate, and understand the many ways that anti-doping efforts have unintentionally changed sport. Have athletes benefited from anti-doping efforts or are their lives worse? Are sporting competitions fairer or healthier or have we simply drove athletes to more dangerous substances? What has happened to the athletes that were caught by the system? Have we compromised certain ethical principles in order to prevent doping? In many ways, we still scarcely understand anti-doping’s far reaching impact. The conference will examine how, why and in what ways anti-doping efforts have changed sport and the culture of sport?
Key questions include:
- What have been the unintended consequences for athletes?
- How have ideas of anti-doping changed?
- How has anti-doping changed the culture of sport?
- Are blood passports, whereabouts reporting, and anti-doping testing helping?
- What have the consequences been for athletes who have tested positive under the new regime?
- What social, ethical, historical, and legal implications have been realized through anti-doping?
To answer such questions, we invite not only scholars from across the humanistic disciplines to share their insights as they assess how anti-doping has changed sport and athletic life but also journalists, sport administrators, and athletes. We are proud to announce that the following experts have already accepted to give keynote addresses:
- Dr. Paul Dimeo, University of Stirling, UK
- Investigative sports journalist Niels Christian Jung, Denmark
- Professor Verner Møller, Aarhus University, Denmark
- Professor Letizia Paoli, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Ex-professional cyclist, Commercial Director Michael Rasmussen, Denmark
- Chief Executive of the Anti-Doping Authority the Netherlands, Herman Ram
- Professor Torbjörn Tännsjö, Stockholm University, Sweden
Check www.doping.au.dk for latest updates and read the full ‘Call for Papers’, with instructions for using the INHDR online submission system.
Kind regards
John Gleaves & Ask Vest Christiansen, INHDR Directors
