Elite sport

Australian

• Win Well: Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy, developed by the Australian sport sector, led by the Australian Sports Commission, (2022). This strategy highlights the importance of ensuring that Australia's high-performance sport system is safe, fair and supportive for all, is athlete focussed, and has aligned safe sport practices and integrity principles across the system.

Australian

• Elite Youth Athlete Guidelines, Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission, (2026). Recommendations for supporting the wellbeing, development, and performance of U18 individuals across high performance (HP) sport.
• Best Practice Principles on Athlete-Centric Governance of Technology and Athlete Information, Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission, (2023). Founded in principles of professionalism and fiduciary responsibility, athlete-centric governance embodies the simple and powerful concept that when individuals and organisations make decisions about technology and athlete information, they must always act in the best interests of athletes, rather than in their own interests. This reflects that athlete information is not and cannot be owned by organisations, practitioners or administrators, but is managed for and on behalf of athletes.

International

• IOC Framework for Safeguarding Athletes and Other Participants from Harassment and Abuse in Sport (Games-time Period), opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (accessed 26 February 2026). The Framework is intended to supplement other IOC codes and regulations such as the Olympic Charter or the IOC Code of Ethics with further specific information and guidance during the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games, in order to ensure that there is a safe and supportive environment for all accredited participants. The Framework applies to all participants at each edition of the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, between the opening and the closing of the Olympic Village(s) for the purposes of the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games as defined within the Framework.
• FEPSAC position statement on safeguarding athletes in sport, opens in a new tab, Anastasiya Khomutova, Stiliani Ani Chroni, Emma Kavanagh, et al., Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 80, 102897, (2025). In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the academic research on interpersonal violence (IV) and safeguarding in sport in a European context, focusing on safeguarding athletes. The position statement further includes recommendations and practical guidelines that will equip readers with knowledge and processes for recognising and responding to IV in sport. Through enhancing safeguarding literacy among FEPSAC members, we aim to inspire and empower both neophyte and more experienced practitioners in sport and exercise psychology toward fostering safer sporting relationships, spaces and practices.
• International Olympic Committee consensus-driven guidelines for athlete mental health support at sporting events, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy M, Sloan S, Ali-Zada M, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 59(21), pp.1459-1470, (2025). This paper aims to provide consensus-driven, evidence-based recommendations to guide such a development and implementation. An 8-stage process based on the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method was adopted to collate and synthesise the available literature on this topic, to identify gaps in the scientific evidence and to enlist expert experience from a multidisciplinary expert panel to fill these gaps. Within such a process, the existing scientific literature was explored while experts (including athletes) were consulted to reach consensus on the recommendations. Accordingly, a robust pre-event plan is required to ensure the successful implementation of a comprehensive mental health programme during sport events, focussing on promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery. During sporting events, according to the defined pre-event plan, various activities targeting athletes, coaches, the entourage, officials or fans should be implemented: for example, educational programmes to decrease stigma, raise awareness and support help-seeking, a mental fitness area for decompression and relaxation, inperson mental health services provided by qualified mental health professionals with sport-specific as well as trauma-informed and violence-informed skills and mental health surveillance in parallel with the existing injury and illness surveillance programmes. Post event, a thorough evaluation of the implemented activities should be conducted while surveillance data should be analysed to identify areas requiring future targeted intervention(s). Also, particular attention should be given to postevent mental health support including the use of decompression interventions to support adjustment, emotional processing and reintegration.
• IOC consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport, opens in a new tab, Tuakli-Wosornu YA, Burrows K, Fasting K, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1322-1344, (2024). This evidence review and consensus process elucidated the characterisation and complexity of IV and safeguarding in sport and demonstrates that a whole-of-system approach is needed to fully comprehend and prevent IV. Sport settings that emphasise mutual care, are athlete centred, promote healthy relationships, embed trauma- and violence-informed care principles, integrate diverse perspectives and measure IV prevention and response effectiveness will exemplify safe sport. A shared responsibility between all within the sports ecosystem is required to advance effective safeguarding through future research, policy and practice.
• International Training and Development Framework for Safeguarding Leads in Sport, opens in a new tab, International Safeguarding for Children in Sport, (2022). Designed to provide a clear training and development pathway to support those involved in safeguarding in sport at local, regional, national, or international level. The Framework recognises that whilst the role of the Safeguarding Lead will vary across organisations, the overall aim of safeguarding training is the same; to make sport safer for children and adults by supporting safeguarding professionals, trainers, and organisations to carry out their roles to the best of their ability.
• Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement, opens in a new tab, Reardon CL, Hainline B, Aron CM, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 53(11), pp.667-699, (2019). This consensus paper addresses the multifaceted aspects of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes. The intended audience includes sport and exercise medicine physicians and other clinicians (including physiotherapists and athletic trainers), psychiatrists and other licensed mental health providers, other mental health and performance professionals who work with elite athletes, researchers in the fields of elite athlete mental health and clinical or institutional leaders/administrators who are stakeholders in sport.
• Athlete Safeguarding Guidelines for IFs and NOCs, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (2016). Aimed at creating and implementing a policy to safeguard athletes from harassment and abuse in sport. These guidelines note the minimum requirements for athlete safeguarding policies and procedures and can be used by sports organisations as a benchmark and policy review tool.

Australian

• ASC Restorative Program, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 25 February 2026). Established to recognise and respond to former Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship athletes who experienced harm from inappropriate practices or abuse as a result of their time at the AIS.
• Mental Health Referral Network, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 25 February 2026). Support for high performance athletes and eligible individuals within the Australian high performance sports system who have mental health or wellbeing concerns.
• Sexual Misconduct Helpline, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 4 March 2026). This free, confidential and independent service is available to anyone in sport who has experienced or been impacted by any form of sexual misconduct, harassment or assault, whether recently or in the past.

International

• Athletes Network for Safer Sports, opens in a new tab, Sports & Rights Alliance, (accessed 24 March 2026). An international network of people and organizations connected by our lived experience of abuse in sport. The Network offers a range of activities for athletes, whistleblowers and allies impacted by abuse in sport, including collective campaigns and solidarity, advocacy training and support, wellbeing support and resources, research analysis and exchange, and an emergency fund for survivors needing urgent assistance.

International

• Safeguarding athletes from harassment and abuse in sport: IOC Toolkit for IFs and NOCs, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (2017). This toolkit aims to assist National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) in the development of policies and procedures to safeguard athletes from harassment and abuse in sport.

• Female athletes found to fear 'nothing is going to happen' when speaking out on gender-based violence, opens in a new tab, Amanda Shalala, ABC, (26 February 2026). Kareema Wakim was in her mid-teens when she made her first national senior team for moguls skiing, earning an overseas trip.
• Elite sportswomen have shared their stories, and these are the hard truths, opens in a new tab, Amanda Shalala, ABC, (12 January 2026). Many athletes in women's sport have told us that they are underpaid, discriminated against, and mistreated in a landmark study conducted by ABC Sport. Athletes were asked for their views on a range of topics including earnings, discrimination, health and wellbeing, resourcing and support, with responses from 152 current and recently retired athletes across 47 sports, including multi-sport athletes. Key findings included: A majority of athletes have witnessed and/or experienced racism, sexual harassment or violence, and discrimination based on their gender, sexuality, or disability; Many athletes are dealing with negative feelings around their body image, and nearly half have experienced an eating disorder/disordered eating; 32% have been trolled on social media, and 87 per cent have seen other athletes abused online.
• ABC Elite Athletes in Australian Women's Sport Survey: Results summary, opens in a new tab, ABC, (12 January 2026). ABC Sport has released the results of its Elite Athletes in Australian Women's Sport Survey, in partnership with Deakin University. It is based on the BBC's Elite British Sportswomen's Study. Here is a summary of the findings, based on 152 responses from elite athletes spanning 47 sports (including some participating in multiple sports).
• Social Protect rolled out to NBL / WNBL with collaborative partnership, opens in a new tab, Basketball Australia, (26 November 2025). The National Basketball League (NBL) and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) alongside Basketball Australia (BA) today announced a new partnership with Social Protect, an online safety platform helping athletes, teams and organisations protect themselves from social media abuse and harmful online interactions.
• Gymnastics Australia breached human rights of girl with broken back, report finds, opens in a new tab, David Mark, ABC, (3 September 2025). A report by an international ethics body has found that Gymnastics Australia (GA) breached the human rights of a 12-year-old girl who broke her back while training in excruciating pain.
• Japan Acts to Protect Athletes from Abuse, opens in a new tab, Human Rights Watch, Hanna Yumura, Human Rights Watch, (13 June 2025). Four years after hosting the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan is finally taking action to protect athletes from abuse in sport. This month, the Japanese National Diet passed a revision to the Basic Act on Sport (2011), requiring the national and local governments to adopt measures against any form of physical or sexual abuse, and against verbal and other abuse when committed by coaches and others in positions of power.
• RLPA survey finds NRLW players experience twice as much abuse as NRL counterparts, opens in a new tab, David Mark, ABC, (17 December 2024). A survey has shown NRLW players receive twice as much online abuse as their male counterparts in the NRL and two in three do not report incidents.
• World Athletics publishes findings of study into online abuse of athletes covering Paris Olympic Games, opens in a new tab, (1 November 2024). Fourth major study into online abuse raises concerns over continued levels of abuse of a racist or sexual nature. Key findings: Racism and sexualised abuse continue to be used to target athletes, making up more than 48% of the results; 809 total posts were verified as abusive, with 128 posts and comments (16%) escalated to the relevant platform for additional action; 1,917 athletes with at least one active account were monitored for online abuse during the Paris Games across four social media platforms – 12 times the size sampled during the Tokyo Olympics.
• GPS tracking is everywhere in pro sports but many AFLW players are uncomfortable with it, opens in a new tab, Paul Bowell, Ekaterina Pechenkina, Emma Sherry, Paul Scifleet, The Conversation, (5 September 2024). AFLW footballers, for example, are asked to train and prepare like their AFL peers, including tracking their physical activities through digital performance monitoring. This can be problematic, because most women athletes are still semi-professional, balancing their sporting commitments with work or caregiving responsibilities. This prompted us to research AFLW players’ comfort with digital performance tracking.
• Abuse in Indian Wrestling Exposes Need for Global Hotline, opens in a new tab, Sport & Rights Alliance, (23 July 2024). The report, “We Were Only Demanding Justice”: Sexual Abuse in Indian Wrestling Federation, details the pattern of sexual harassment and violence suffered by athletes during the 12-year tenure of then-President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Singh, who was also a Parliament member with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the time.
• The 3 changes Australian sport must make after Volleyball Australia’s shocking abuse report, opens in a new tab, Natalie Galea, Mary Woessner, Victoria Roberts, The Conversation, (31 July 2024). The Paris Olympics has commenced with much excitement as fans soak in athletic achievements, medal counts and inspiring stories of success and triumph. While we celebrate these accomplishments, we must also consider the price paid for these medals. Not the cost in terms of money – the human cost. The physical and psychological toll of what athletes must endure in sport environments.
• With Olympics approaching, it’s time to recognize children as a protected class in sport, opens in a new tab, Peter Donnelly, Marcus Mazzucco, The Conversation, (20 May 2024). With the Paris Olympics approaching, questions will again be raised about child athletes competing at major international competitions. This presents an opportunity for those in amateur and professional sports to work toward protecting the safety and well-being of child athletes.
• Sports federations urged to do more to safeguard athletes, opens in a new tab, Marcus Hoy, Play the Game, (23 February 2024). A session at Play the Game 2024 outlined several problems when it comes to protecting athletes. Research shows that many athletes do not report cases of sextortion and inappropriate behaviour because they believe nothing will be done, and Global Athletes called IOC safeguarding processes inadequate.
• IOC agrees to raise short track minimum age limit for Milan Cortina 2026, opens in a new tab, Geoff Berkeley, Inside the Games, (11 September 2023). The International Skating Union (ISU) has ruled that only skaters that have reached the age of at least 17 before July 1 in 2025 should be eligible to compete at Milan Cortina 2026.
• “I feel (un)safe when…”: What athletes have to say about high performance culture, opens in a new tab, Eric MacIntosh, Shannon Kerwin, Alison Doherty, SIRCuit, (25 July 2022). In this article, researchers present their findings about Canadian high performance athletes’ perspectives on safe and unsafe sport environments, as well as recommendations for changes. Athletes identified coach behaviour, teammate or fellow athlete behaviour, lack of resources and an inattentive sport system as key factors contributing to unsafe sporting environments. Implementing initiatives to target these issues can support the shift to a safer sport environment (for example, requiring coaches to undertake self-awareness and self-regulation training that promote safe coach behaviour).
• JOC to introduce measures aimed at protecting female athletes from sexualised photos, opens in a new tab, Michael Pavitt, Inside the Games, (14 October 2020). The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) are to introduce measures aimed at preventing female athletes from being photographed in a sexualised manner when competing in their events.
• Photo Series Explores 'Sexploitation' in Athletic Uniforms, opens in a new tab, Julie Compton, NBC News, (22 August 2016). The 2016 Rio Olympics were a reminder of the often striking differences in how male and female athletes dress. In sports like beach volleyball and tennis, for example, women wore scanty sports bikinis and skirts, and the men shirts and shorts.
• These Male Olympic Athletes Are Getting “Magic Miked”, opens in a new tab, Hayley Halverson, Endsexualexploitation.org, (22 August 2016). Instead of focusing on the athletic accomplishments of swimmers, cyclists, or gymnasts, Cosmo has once again returned to one of its favorite recreational activities: sexual objectification.
• Aesthetics or athletics? , opens in a new tabCambridge University Press, (1 August 2016). As athletes around the world descend on Rio for the 2016 Olympics Games, the pinnacle of the global sporting calendar, a new study of English language reveals wide discrepancies in how the media and fans alike talk about men and women in sport.

• Positive Behaviours in Sport Snapshot 2025, opens in a new tab, Sport Integrity Australia, (2025). A snapshot of results from the first 12 months of the Positive Behaviours in Sport Study that is being conducted over a period of five years between 2024-2028 to seek thoughts and feedback from coaches and participants/athletes around what they think about the fairness and safety of sport in Australia and provide insight into the current level of knowledge Australians have in relation to sport integrity issues.
• Online Abuse in Sport Barometer 2025, opens in a new tab, United Against Online Abuse (UAOA), (2025). The second edition of the Barometer report is based on an extensive survey of 18 international sporting federations to research and track how online abuse is impacting athletes, competitors, officials and referees in various sporting disciplines across the world. Key findings from the federations surveyed included:
  • 50% of all abuse directed at athletes and competitors was misogynistic or racist.
  • 75% reported continued threats against competitors and their families.
  • 50% said volunteers and officials now face routine online abuse.
  • 90% agreed that abuse could force athletes to leave their sport.
  • 33% already had a formal plan in place to address online abuse in their sport; around 38% did not but were in the process of developing one.
  • Around 22% were already using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to detect and remove instances of online abuse against participants in their sport, another 11% were in discussions with service providers to do so.
• The Players' Pulse: The RLPA's Annual Player Survey & Findings Report, opens in a new tab, Rugby League Players Association, (2025). Over 800 NRL and NRLW players completed the RLPA’s annual member survey during the 2025 seasons. The Players’ Pulse survey involved over 100 questions on a range of topics from workplace environments and sponsorship deals to social media and racism. Some key findings relating to experiences of abuse and harm from athlete respondents included:
  • 13% of men's and 9% of women's players experienced targeted abuse; with 7% of men's and 5% of women's experienced racism.
  • The primary channel where abuse occurred was social media, over 80% for both men and women. For male players 63% also experienced abuse from fans at games, but this was significantly lower for female players (9%).
  • 38% of male players, and 28% of female felt pressured to continue to train with concussion symptoms.
  • In 2025, both competitions recorded a C rating for psychological safety, cultural safety was rated around a C level for the NRLW and B for NRL. While this indicates that most players do feel generally safe in their environments, it also means that fewer than 75% feel this support at a consistently high level.
• “We Were Only Demanding Justice”: Sexual Abuse in Indian Wrestling Federation, opens in a new tab, Sport & Rights Alliance, (July 2024). The report details the pattern of sexual harassment and violence suffered by athletes during the 12-year tenure of then-President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Singh, who was also a Parliament member with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the time.
• Operation Refuge: An Examination of Doping Among Minors, opens in a new tab, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), (January 2024). Reports in detail about the deep trauma and isolation child athletes experience following a positive test and doping sanction. Undertaken by WADA’s Intelligence and Investigations Department, the report shines a light on the immense challenges faced by minors, their families and the anti-doping community when a child tests positive for a prohibited substance or method. The report delivers a number of conclusions and identifies important areas for improvement on this issue.
• Professional Athletes and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, opens in a new tab, International Labour Organization, (2024). Professional athletes, in addition to being celebrated competitors and symbols of national/local pride and identity, are also workers in the world of sports. The world of sports faces its own particular decent work challenges. This technical brief analyses the particular risks encountered by professional athletes in relation to the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s fundamental principles and rights at work. It outlines how the fundamental principles and rights at work and related Conventions and Recommendations can provide guidance on mitigating these risks.
• Decent Work in the World of Sport, opens in a new tab, International Labour Organization, (2020). The purpose of the Global Dialogue Forum was to discuss current and emerging issues related to the promotion of decent work in the world of sport, with the aim of adopting points of consensus, including recommendations for future action by the International Labour Organization and its Members.
• Snapshot analysis: social media commentary of sportswomen and men, opens in a new tab, PLAN International, (April 2019). The snapshot analysis of social media commentary found that more than a quarter of all comments towards sportswomen were sexist, sexualised, belittled women’s sports or were otherwise negative in nature. The analysis looked at a selection of social media commentary on Facebook posts shared by major sports news broadcasters in Australia in the past 12 months, and found:
  • Sportswomen face three times as many negative comments as men, at 27% compared to 9%
  • Social media abuse of sportswomen is overwhelmingly sexist – 23% of all negative comments towards sportswomen were sexist in nature, referring to traditional gender stereotypes, while 20% belittled women’s sports, their athletic abilities and skills.
  • Sexualised comments are only aimed at sportswomen – 14% of all negative comments towards sportswomen were sexualised, compared to 0% for male athletes.
  • Whilst the majority of negative comments towards men focused on cheating or drugs, some sportsmen were also subjected to sexist abuse towards men: 15% of negative comments towards men referred to traditional gender stereotypes, which deem that they must not display weakness or emotion.

• Coach-Perpetrated Interpersonal Violence: Witnessing, Perceived Harmfulness and the Role of Coaching Motivational Climate, opens in a new tab, Stiliani “Ani” Chroni, Mary Hassandra, Helena Verhelle, et al., European Journal of Sport Science, Volume 26(1), e70113, (2026). Coach-perpetrated interpersonal violence can pose significant risks to athletes' development as well as psychological, physical and social well-being worldwide. This study examined the perceived harmfulness of witnessed coach-perpetrated interpersonal violence behaviours in the North Mediterranean region, alongside any associations with coaching climates (empowering and disempowering). Data were collected from 494 active coaches across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain and Portugal through an online questionnaire where they reported witnessing and perceived harm of psychological, physical, instrumental and sexual violence, as well as their coaching climates. The analysis showed psychological violence as the most frequently witnessed form and physical violence being perceived as the most harmful one. An empowering coaching climate, characterised by autonomy support and positive reinforcement, correlated positively with higher perceived harm, especially for psychological and instrumental violence. Conversely, a disempowering climate, marked by control and punitive behaviours, correlated with lower perceived harm. Gender, coach education and professional status were found to influence coaches' perceptions, highlighting that cultural and structural complexities have a role towards interpersonal violence tolerance. The study underscores the critical need for culturally tailored safe sport initiatives, mandatory training of coaches in safe coaching behaviours and practices and proactive safeguarding measures to mitigate interpersonal violence across diverse sporting contexts. Culturally informed interventions need to challenge the normalisation of violence in coaching and encourage empowering climates that place athletes in the centre and prioritise their welfare.
• Sexual harassment, abuse and intimate relationships between coaches and athletes: a systematic review, opens in a new tab, Sungwon Kim, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 31(1), pp.43-63, (2026). While sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) can be perpetrated by various individuals in sport, coaches have been studied as one of the most frequent perpetrators due to their physical and emotional proximity to athletes. This systematic review attempted to evaluate the past 20 years of research (2003–2023) examining SHA and inappropriate intimate relationships between coaches and athletes. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline, 20 studies that met the eligibility criteria were identified using four databases (PubMed, PsycNET, ScienceDirect and SportDiscus). Findings reveal common thematic measures among the studies reviewed, including characteristics of SHA (n = 9), coach-athlete sexual relationships (CASR; n = 7) and grooming (n = 4). Based on the narrative synthesis of each thematic measure, SHA in sport is experienced and/or perceived as various forms of sexual misconduct, ranging from harassment (e.g. sexual jokes, unwanted comments, fondling) to abusive behaviors (e.g. kissing, showing coach's private body parts, sexual intercourse). Although some studies show the acceptance of CASR especially when athletes are above the age of legal consent, the strong majority of studies suggest that CASR in general is harmful and unacceptable given the unequal power dynamics between the two parties. Additionally, grooming was often involved as a conscious strategy to cross athletes’ personal boundaries for eventual sexual misconduct through building trust and manifesting seemingly innocuous behaviors. Overall, these findings shed light on the current state of research on SHA occurring between coaches and athletes and have implications for sport governing bodies and organizations to be better aware of the issue, which in turn can result in creating a safer environment for youth athletes.
• The blurred line in elite sport: exploring UK media reporting of bullying and banter, opens in a new tab, James A. Newman, Subhan Mahmood, James L. Rumbold, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 30(1), pp.57-72, (2025). In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the concepts of bullying and banter within both sport research and media reporting. However, at present, research has not explored reports of bullying and banter within the UK sport media This is a potential omission, as the media may provide important conceptual information about bullying and banter to those outside of the academic domain. Therefore, the present study sought to understand how banter and bullying are framed by the UK sport media and how these concepts have been distinguished from one another. Guided by a pragmatist approach, 85 print and broadcast media articles were analysed from The Times, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Sun, The Guardian, British Broadcasting Company (BBC) and Sky Sports News (SNN). Through an abductive thematic analysis, the findings highlighted several themes around the media’s view of bullying. The media differentiated bullying and banter through the tipping point between these concepts and a misinterpretation of jokes and banter. The present study contributed to the current research on bullying and banter by analysing the media’s perspectives of the concepts. Overall, the findings outline the contemporary understanding of bullying in sport, whilst highlighting the significant influence the media has in shaping the discussion around banter in this context.
• FEPSAC position statement on safeguarding athletes in sport, opens in a new tab, Anastasiya Khomutova, Stiliani Ani Chroni, Emma Kavanagh, et al., Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 80, 102897, (2025). In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the academic research on interpersonal violence (IV) and safeguarding in sport in a European context, focusing on safeguarding athletes. The position statement further includes recommendations and practical guidelines that will equip readers with knowledge and processes for recognising and responding to IV in sport. Through enhancing safeguarding literacy among FEPSAC members, we aim to inspire and empower both neophyte and more experienced practitioners in sport and exercise psychology toward fostering safer sporting relationships, spaces and practices.
• “I always just viewed it as part of sport”: Psychological maltreatment and conformity to the sport ethic, opens in a new tab, Sarah McGee, Gretchen Kerr, Michael Atkinson, et al., Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 37(4), pp.487-506, (2025). Sport environments have the potential to be advantageous to one’s development and well-being; however, they are also plagued with the normalization of excessive pressures and extreme expectations that can enhance athletes’ susceptibility to experiencing harm, especially psychological maltreatment. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore athletes’ experiences of conforming to the sport ethic and experiences of psychological maltreatment in sport. Semi-structured interviews were completed with thirteen retired, competitive, women athletes. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Findings demonstrate that the sport ethic influences the vulnerability of athletes to experiencing psychological maltreatment and athletes’ experiences of psychological maltreatment influence their conformity to the sport ethic. The desire to please is identified as central to this nexus between conformity and experiences of psychological maltreatment. The paper concludes with applied recommendations for sport psychology practitioners.
• International Olympic Committee consensus-driven guidelines for athlete mental health support at sporting events, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy M, Sloan S, Ali-Zada M, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 59(21), pp.1459-1470, (2025). This paper aims to provide consensus-driven, evidence-based recommendations to guide such a development and implementation. An 8-stage process based on the RAND-UCLA Appropriateness Method was adopted to collate and synthesise the available literature on this topic, to identify gaps in the scientific evidence and to enlist expert experience from a multidisciplinary expert panel to fill these gaps. Within such a process, the existing scientific literature was explored while experts (including athletes) were consulted to reach consensus on the recommendations. Accordingly, a robust pre-event plan is required to ensure the successful implementation of a comprehensive mental health programme during sport events, focussing on promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery. During sporting events, according to the defined pre-event plan, various activities targeting athletes, coaches, the entourage, officials or fans should be implemented: for example, educational programmes to decrease stigma, raise awareness and support help-seeking, a mental fitness area for decompression and relaxation, inperson mental health services provided by qualified mental health professionals with sport-specific as well as trauma-informed and violence-informed skills and mental health surveillance in parallel with the existing injury and illness surveillance programmes. Post event, a thorough evaluation of the implemented activities should be conducted while surveillance data should be analysed to identify areas requiring future targeted intervention(s). Also, particular attention should be given to postevent mental health support including the use of decompression interventions to support adjustment, emotional processing and reintegration.
• Mental health service provision in elite sport: An evaluation of the Australian Institute of Sport Mental Health Referral Network, opens in a new tab, Vita Pilkington, Courtney C. Walton, Kate Gwyther, et al., Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 37(4), pp.397-421, (2025). The Australian Institute of Sport established the Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) service in 2018, initially focused on mental health care for elite athletes only, but subsequently extended to include elite coaches, high-performance support staff and sports administration staff. This study used a convergent mixed-methods service evaluation to examine service users’ experiences with the care provided by the MHRN. The MHRN was viewed favorably by service users (elite athletes, coaches, and staff). They valued timely, flexible, no-cost access to support from external clinicians with expertise in elite sport. Accessing external support was preferred to help-seeking within the sport setting.
• Prevalence of emotional abuse and subsequent feelings in adolescent and young semi-professional male football players, opens in a new tab, Fatemeh RayatSarokolaei, Mohammad Vaezmousavi, Mojgan Memarmoghaddam, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 30(6), pp.754-767, (2025). Emotional abuse is the most common form of maltreatment in sports. However, due to the ignorance of the harmful effects and the hiding of this abuse in the shadow of success, less attention has been paid to it. In the present study, the researchers investigated the amount of emotional abuse and the subsequent feelings in young and adolescent athletes. The current research is cross-sectional with a mixed-methods approach, and 100 football players (adolescent = 59, young = 41) participated in the study. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, which was analyzed and interpreted by grounded theory and SPSS software. Evidence demonstrated that 48% of all participants were emotionally abused by a coach during their sports career, such as humiliation and insults. While this maltreatment has been more common among young athletes, it has left far more short and long-term destructive effects, such as self-blame and loss of pride among adolescents. Based on the findings, we conclude that many athletes are exposed to emotional abuse, which has adverse consequences, especially in adolescence. Therefore, the awareness of athletes and coaches regarding maltreatment and its harmful effects can reduce the frequency of emotional abuse and maintain the psychological safety of athletes.
• Safeguarding athletes and anti-doping: applying theories of vulnerability, opens in a new tab, Angela J. Schneider, Nelson Morales Páez, Yaneí Lezama Ramírez, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 7, (2025). Although it is greatly needed in all sectors of sport, the concept and application of safeguarding to anti-doping has been underexplored and under theorized. In this article, utilizing the method of critical philosophical and ethical analysis, we attempt to provide evidence regarding why the intersection between safeguarding and anti-doping is very important and requires critical analysis; moreover, we suggest that feminist bioethics reflections on vulnerability can offer unique insights into key issues related to safeguarding in sport, such as the autonomy of athletes and the concept of ‘protected persons' and, most pertinent to this research, to the concepts of athlete vulnerability and anti-doping in sport. We explore the concept of vulnerability within the context of doping and anti-doping.
• Athlete Mental Health and Wellbeing During the Transition into Elite Sport: Strategies to Prepare the System, opens in a new tab, Vita Pilkington, Simon Rice, Lisa Olive, et al., Sports Medicine, Volume 10, article number 24, (2024). The transition into elite-level sport can expose young athletes to risk factors for mental ill-health, including increased performance expectations, stressors associated with becoming increasingly public figures, and changes in lifestyle demands, such as diet, training loads and sleep. Successful integration into elite-level sport requires athletes to quickly adapt to these newfound challenges and the norms and culture of the new sport setting, while developing relationships with teammates, coaches, and support staff. Despite these demands, the mental health experiences of athletes transitioning into elite-level sport have been largely neglected in sport psychology literature. In this article, we offer a preliminary framework for supporting athletes’ mental health during the transition into elite-level sport. This framework is based on holistic, developmental, and ecological perspectives. Key recommendations include preparing athletes for the challenges they are likely to face throughout their athletic careers, highlighting athletes’ competence earlier in their careers, developing supportive relationships in the sport setting, and fostering psychologically safe sporting cultures. Supporting mental health from earlier in the athletic career is likely to promote athletes’ overall wellbeing, support enjoyment and retention in sport, and encourage help-seeking.
• Association of self-reported health problems and interpersonal violence in sport: a cross-sectional study in world-level performing athletes, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy M, Adriaens K, Junge A, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume58(22), pp.1360-1368, (2024). A paucity of studies assesses the intersection of physical health (injury and illness), mental health and experiences of interpersonal violence (IV, also known as harassment and abuse) in sport. The objectives of this study were to examine the (a) frequency of self-reported physical and mental health problems of elite athletes in the 12 months prior to the survey, (b) differences in physical and mental health between male and female athletes and (c) relationship of athlete health with experiences of IV. Elite adult athletes from four sports were approached at eight international events to answer an online questionnaire on their physical and mental health, as well as experiences of IV in sport within the past 12 months. A total of 562 athletes completed the questionnaire. Overall, 75% reported at least one physical symptom, most commonly headache and fatigue (n=188; 33.5% each), followed by musculoskeletal symptoms (n=169; 29.4%). 65.1% reported at least one mental health symptom, mostly of anxiety or depression. More female than male athletes reported physical (F:81.9%; M:68.3%; p<0.001) and mental (F:71.9%; M:58.4%; p<0.001) health problems, while addiction problems were more frequent in male athletes (F:1.8%; M:6.4%; p=0.006. 53.0% of the female and 42.3% of the male participants reported having experienced at least one form of IV. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that all forms of IV, except physical IV (all p’s<0.001), were associated with an increasing number of physical and mental health symptoms. In addition, the analysis showed that female athletes had a higher increase in symptoms in response to IV than male athletes.
• Complaints procedure for aggrieved athletes thwarts necessary cultural change in gymnastics in Australia, opens in a new tab, Roberts VL, Quigley AS, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(1), pp.50-52, (2024). How can we make organisational complaint policies and investigation procedures work more effectively to support, rather than thwart, whole-of-sport cultural change? To establish a set of recommendations, we need to consider the influence of culture on organisational behaviour and policy design and implementation.
• IOC consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport, opens in a new tab, Tuakli-Wosornu YA, Burrows K, Fasting K, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1322-1344, (2024). This evidence review and consensus process elucidated the characterisation and complexity of IV and safeguarding in sport and demonstrates that a whole-of-system approach is needed to fully comprehend and prevent IV. Sport settings that emphasise mutual care, are athlete centred, promote healthy relationships, embed trauma- and violence-informed care principles, integrate diverse perspectives and measure IV prevention and response effectiveness will exemplify safe sport. A shared responsibility between all within the sports ecosystem is required to advance effective safeguarding through future research, policy and practice.
• Safeguarding policies and practices in International Federations: on the right track?, opens in a new tab Vertommen T, Mountjoy M, Constandt B, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1319-1321, (2024). Interpersonal violence in sport—whether physical, sexual, psychological or neglect—remains a pressing public health concern, casting a shadow over the well-being of athletes at all levels. The impact of interpersonal violence, often referred to as ‘harassment and abuse’ in sport policy documents, extends far beyond the individual, touching families, healthcare systems and society.1 In recent years, safeguarding strategies have emerged as a vital strategy to protect athletes in the Olympic Movement, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a key actor. However, the landscape of safeguarding policies and practices within Summer and Winter Olympic International Federations (IFs) still reveals considerable variation, often lacking consistency and comprehensive implementation. Recognising these gaps, an internal quality control project driven by the IOC Safe Sport Unit set out to establish a framework for monitoring and evaluating the safeguarding efforts of IFs. By developing a set of indicators (see table 1), the project aimed to create a baseline framework for measuring safeguarding activities and to provide a tool for tracking changes over time. Through the application of this framework, it becomes possible to identify key challenges and areas in need of attention, resulting in the ability to support IFs in strengthening their safeguarding activities by pinpointing critical gaps.
• Social media impact on athlete mental health: #RealityCheck, opens in a new tab, Putukian M, Blauwet C, Currie A, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(9), pp.463-465, (2024). Although the literature on mental health and social media use has increased, minimal research exists on young and/or elite athletes, leaving many important questions unanswered. What are the positive and negative mental health effects of social media on athletes? Are there opportunities to use social media to increase mental health literacy, destigmatise mental health and normalise help-seeking behaviours? What measures exist to protect young and elite athletes from adverse effects of social media? This editorial addresses the potential benefits and harms of social media use on the mental health of athletes and calls for increased research, education and policy to better safeguard athletes in the future.
• #WhatWouldYouDo? A cross-sectional study of sports medicine physicians assessing their competency in managing harassment and abuse in sports, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy M, Verhelle H, Finnoff JT, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1353-1359, (2024). We implemented a cross-sectional cohort study design recruiting through social media and international sports medicine networks in 2023. The survey captured participant perceptions related to the harmfulness of harassment and abuse. The survey incorporated the reasoned action approach as a theoretical framework to design survey questions to identify attitudes and self-efficacy to detect and report suspicions of harassment and abuse and to identify barriers to reporting. Sports medicine physicians (n=406) from 115 countries completed the survey. The situations of harassment and abuse presented in the survey were described by sports medicine physicians as having occurred in the 12 months before participating in the survey. Despite recognising the situations as harmful, sports medicine physicians were somewhat uncomfortable being vigilant for the signs and symptoms and reporting suspicions and disclosures of harassment and abuse (M=2.13, SD=0.67). In addition, just over one-quarter (n=101, 26.9%) was unaware of where to report harassment and abuse, and over half did not know (n=114, 28.1%), or were uncertain (n=95, 23.4%) of who the safeguarding officer was in their sports organisation. Participants identified many barriers to reporting harassment and abuse, including concerns regarding confidentiality, misdiagnosis, fear of reprisals, time constraints and lack of knowledge. Over half felt insufficiently trained (n=223, 57.6%), and most respondents (n=324, 84.6%) desired more education in the field. Educational programmes to better recognise and report harassment and abuse in sports are needed for sports medicine trainees and practising clinicians. An international safeguarding code for sports medicine physicians should be developed.
• What would you do? Developing, implementing and evaluating a coach bystander intervention to prevent sexual violence in youth sports clubs, opens in a new tab, Helena Verhelle, Tine Vertommen, Karolien Adriaens, et al., Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 36(5), pp.809-830, (2024). With current estimates of up to one in three children experiencing some form of sexual violence in sports, the need for effective measures to prevent sexual violence in sports is high. Survivors’ narratives of sexual violence in sports uncover the lack of (adequate) bystander action and the urgent need for stakeholder education to effectively prevent sexual violence in youth sports. This study presents the “All Aboard” educational program, targeting youth sports coaches in Flanders (Belgium). The program aimed to stimulate the intentions of youth coaches to engage in positive bystander behavior to adequately detect, assess, and respond to signs of sexual violence toward young athletes. After two pilot studies, this program was implemented in nine Flemish sports clubs. Coaches’ readiness to change, intentions and attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control were measured before and after they participated in the program using the “And what would you do?” questionnaire, constructed according to the Reasoned Action Approach. After the program, positive change was found in coaches’ intentions to be a positive bystander, e.g., they acknowledged the value of being a positive bystander, felt more comfortable being a positive bystander and believed that doing so would improve the situation. This article is one of the first to report on an evidence-based intervention program to prevent sexual violence in sports by fostering positive attitudes toward positive bystander behaviors by coaches. Opportunities and challenges of implementing education to prevent sexual violence in local sports clubs are discussed.
• When jokes aren’t funny: banter and abuse in the everyday work environments of professional football, opens in a new tab, Colm Hickey, Martin Roderick, European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 24(2), pp.383-403, (2024). This study provides an original insight into the attitudes professional football players hold towards banter. Contributing to the existing research that has examined forms of abuse within sport, this article aims to better inform the management and development of athlete well-being and player care.
• Athlete Perceptions of Governance-Related Issues to Sexual Abuse in Sport, opens in a new tab, Jörg Krieger, Lindsay Parks Pieper, Social Sciences, Volume 12(3), (2023). Cases of abuse in sport have emerged with frightening regularity over the past two decades. Scholarship has identified risk factors that can help facilitate abuse in sport and has explored athletes’ experiences with sexual abuse. However, less is known about athletes’ perceptions of the systematic organizational-level problems that fail to curtail sexual abuse. This article, therefore, explores what athletes believe to be the key issues in governance that facilitate sexual abuse in sport. An analysis of the lawsuits that athletes filed against US sport organizations and the testimonies they provided to the US Congress from 2017 to 2022 show four primary ways in which organizational culture, decisions and policies helped permit misconduct in sport. Athlete perspectives suggest governance issues related to monopolistic power structures, a lack of athlete representation, conflicts of interest, and commercialization facilitated an abuse-prone culture within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States. These findings show that athletes feel that the adjudication mechanisms that remain connected to sport bodies do not always curtail abuse.
• Culture, experiences, gender and sexual harassment for sport and exercise medicine/physiotherapy practitioners working in elite Australian sport, opens in a new tab, S. Cowana ∙ M. Girdwooda ∙ M. Haberfield, et al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 26(Supp.1), S175-176, (2023). All titled Australian Physiotherapy Association Sport and Exercise Physiotherapists, Sport and Exercise Medicine Practitioners, and doctors and physiotherapists working in Australian elite sport were invited to participate in the project (Feb – April 2022). All participants completed a tailored online survey and a validated Gender Experiences Questionnaire (GEQ). Women SEMP practitioners were more likely to work with women athletes who are paid less, have lower public profiles and receive less media attention, than their men counterparts, which potentially impacts renumeration available for SEMP practitioners. Furthering the disadvantage, women working in elite sport worked less paid hours per week and less paid weeks per year. SEMP practitioners were appointed to positions without established procedures: i.e. most SEMP roles were not advertised, nor had formal and transparent recruitment processes. Women were 4.01 times more likely than men to agree that their gender and/or sexual orientation influenced their opportunities in elite sport. Women currently working in elite sport experienced significantly more infantilisation, work/family policing and gender policing than men. Women also reported feeling less supported to discuss/ disclose these issues in their workplace.
• Nonaccidental Violence Among Elite Athletes in Finland: Associations With Sport Conditions and Mental Well-Being and Ill-Being, opens in a new tab, Satu Kaskiand Ulla Kinnunen, Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, Volume 17(4), pp.482-501, (2023). The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of nonaccidental violence among elite athletes in Finland, the predisposing factors to violence, and its consequences for mental well-being and ill-being. A total of 2,045 Finnish athletes participated in the study. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the associations. The results indicated that 38.8% had experienced psychological abuse, 14.7% bullying, 13.3% gender-based harassment, and 5.5% sexual harassment. Female and younger athletes reported more violent experiences than male and older athletes. A team’s safe atmosphere and readiness to act protected athletes from nonaccidental violence, whereas the coach did not play a role. Nonaccidental violence, particularly psychological abuse, was associated with reduced mental well-being and increased ill-being. Our results suggest that it is worth investing in the team’s mutual relationships and safe cooperation when ensuring appropriate behavior and preventing nonaccidental violence among athletes.
• Pixies in a windstorm: Tracing Australian gymnasts’ stories of athlete maltreatment through media data, opens in a new tab, Michelle E. Seanor, Cole E. Giffin, Robert J. Schinke, et al., Sport in Society, Volume 26(3), pp.553-572, (2023). The media have reported stories of a toxic sport culture in elite gymnastics. Our interdisciplinary research team, through the lens of cultural relativism, sought to present athlete maltreatment as culturally constructed across individual, organizational and national cultural layers in Olympic development contexts. Tracing storied media data from elite Australian gymnasts, we tailored our sociocultural interpretation of athlete maltreatment within an Asia-Pacific context. We engaged in a reflexive thematic analysis to analyze and recognize our interpretations of the media data. We use a polyphonic vignette to highlight multiple storylines of Olympic athlete maltreatment across five temporal phases: (1) defining an Australian gymnast, (2) grooming an Australian gymnast, (3) living as an Australian gymnast, (4) questioning gymnastics and (5) what happens to Australian gymnasts now? Utilizing Asia-Pacific media data facilitated our nuanced interpretation of infacing and outfacing athlete maltreatment as media sources project athlete narratives in alignment with cultural agendas.
• “There just isn't any other option—so we just have to put up with it”: mental health in women's cycling and the necessity of structural change, opens in a new tab, Jill Colangelo, Alexander Smith, Anna Buadze, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 5, (2023). This perspective article draws upon anecdotal and scholarly evidence to provide an overview of psychiatric concerns in women's professional cycling. This informs recommended strategies to improve mental health and advance equality within the sport, which should involve actions from several stakeholders, such as athletes, teams, and governing bodies.
• Beneath the Surface: Mental Health and Harassment and Abuse of Athletes Participating in the FINA (Aquatics) World Championships, 2019, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy, Margo; Junge, Astrid; Magnusson, Christer, et al., Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Volume 32(2), pp.95-102, (2022). To assess the mental health and experience of sport-related harassment and abuse of elite aquatic athletes and to analyze it in relation to gender and discipline. A quarter (24.6%) of the 377 responding athletes were classified as depressed and 2.5% as having an eating disorder. More than 40% of the athletes stated that they wanted or needed psychotherapeutic support. Fifty-one athletes (14.9%) had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves, and 31 (9%) had witnessed it in another athlete. The experiences of harassment and abuse ranged from unwanted comments about body or appearance (40.2%) to rewards in sport for sexual favors (2.5%) and rape (0.3%). Athletes who had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves had higher average scores for depression and eating disorders, and more of them felt they needed psychotherapeutic support. Up to a third would not talk or report to anybody if they saw or experienced harassment/abuse, and less than 20% would talk to an official for help.
• Body shaming and associated practices as abuse: athlete entourage as perpetrators of abuse, opens in a new tab, Jenny McMahon, Kerry R. McGannon, Catherine Palmer, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 27(5), pp.578-591, (2022). In the 2016 International Olympic Committee Consensus Statement on harassment and abuse, it was outlined that psychological abuse in sport research has been heavily focused on the coach–athlete relationship resulting in a lack of research on other members of the athletes’ support system such as their ‘entourage.’ Researchers of abuse have further noted that psychological abuse remains relatively underexplored in comparison to other types of athlete abuses (e.g. sexual abuse). As psychological abuse is one of the most common types of abuse occurring in sporting contexts, it has been flagged as an urgent safeguarding concern. Psychological abuse can be enacted in different ways with many associated behaviours. The present study explored one under-researched issue shown to be entrenched in sport culture – ‘body shaming’ – and how it constitutes psychological abuse. We also focused on the role of the athlete entourage (i.e. people associated with the athlete) in relation to psychological abuse through the body shaming of athletes. Using thematic analysis, three female athletes’ stories showed how they were subjected to psychological abuse from members of their entourage when their bodies failed to meet socio-cultural expectations (i.e. too fat, not ‘slim to win’). While it was not the central focus of our research, the athletes also explained how they were subjected to physical abuse and physical neglect from entourage members when they were perceived to be overweight or too fat. The athlete entourage members found to be perpetrators of abuse and physical neglect included the coach, the parent, the partner, and the manager. This research provides novel insight into how abuse is circulating through sporting contexts, and in so doing, generates knowledge for prevention and intervention initiatives in sport.
• Listening to Athletes' Voices: National Team Athletes' Perspectives on Advancing Safe Sport in Canada, opens in a new tab, Erin Willson, Gretchen Kerr, Anthony Battaglia, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 4, (2022). If safe sport initiatives are to benefit athletes, consideration and incorporation of athletes' perspectives in the development and implementation of initiatives are imperative. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine athletes' perspectives on the challenges and recommendations to advancing safe sport. As part of a large-scale survey of current and retired Canadian National Team Athletes' experiences of maltreatment, open-ended questions were asked about athletes' recommendations and considerations for safe sport. Responses to these questions (n = 386) were analyzed using thematic analysis. According to the participants, barriers and challenges to safe sport included emphasizing performance excellence at-all-costs, normalization and complicity of harm, lack of attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, a culture of fear and silence, and a lack of trust in organizations to handle cases of harm. In an effort to advance safe sport, participants recommended prioritizing holistic athlete development, improving and strengthening accountability measures, implementing an independent 3rd party for disclosure, reporting and support, increased attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, stakeholder education, prohibition of sexual relations between athletes and those in positions of power and authority, and adoption of a broader perspective of harms and perpetrators. Findings are interpreted and critiqued in light of previous literature and recommendations for future research and practice are suggested.
• SafeSport: Perceptions of Harassment and Abuse From Elite Youth Athletes at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Lausanne 2020, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy, Margo; Vertommen, Tine; Tercier, Stephane, et al., Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Volume 32(3), pp.297-305, (2022). To analyze the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2020 athletes' understanding and perceptions of harassment and abuse in sport and their knowledge of reporting mechanisms. The survey response rate of athletes attending the Safe Sport Booth was 69%. When asked to define Safe Sport, 10% of athletes at the YOG2020 correctly identified a sport environment free from harassment and abuse, 20% identified fair play/antidoping, and 19% safety. When presented with the definition of harassment and abuse, 30.4% expressed surprise, in contrast to 46% in the summer YOG2018. A third (32%) reported that harassment and abuse was either “likely” or “very likely” present in their sport, which was similar to the YOG2018 (34%). The group of athletes not knowing where to go to report harassment and abuse was greater than in the YOG2018 (26% vs 11%). There were no differences in responses between competitive sex (boys' vs girls' events) or type of sport (team vs individual).
• Elite athletes’ experiences of interpersonal violence in organized sport in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, opens in a new tab, Jeannine Ohlert, Tine Vertommen, Bettina Rulofs, et al. European Journal of Sport Science, volume 21(4), pp.604-613, (2021). Interpersonal violence in sport occurs in different forms, from emotional abuse, overtraining, bullying, physical aggression and pressuring to punishment and sexual abuse. Due to the use of different definitions, a comparison of prevalence estimates between studies in different countries has not been possible to date. The aim of the current study was thus to present the prevalence estimates of interpersonal violence in elite sport for the Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders), and Germany and to examine the overlap of three types of interpersonal violence. Data from two different surveys (one in the Netherlands and Flanders and another in Germany) of a total of 1,665 elite athletes (n = 533 from the Netherlands and Flanders, n = 1,132 from Germany) were used. Athletes were asked to answer questions about their experiences of psychological, physical, and sexual violence in the context of organized sport. In general, lifetime prevalence estimates for all three types of interpersonal violence are more than 24% in elite athletes, with the highest numbers for psychological violence. Compared to representative population samples the prevalence rate of psychological violence seems to be particularly high. Gender differences were only evident for sexual violence, with female athletes showing higher prevalence estimates than male athletes. Furthermore, a high overlap of experiences of the three different forms of interpersonal violence was found for all three countries. The differences in prevalence estimates between the three countries are discussed.
• Infographic. A guide to understanding athlete abuse, opens in a new tab, Tuakli-Wosornu YA, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 55(24), pp.1439-1440, (2021). The intent is to share information in an athlete-centred and sport-centred way so as to boost understanding of athlete abuse and enable easier integration of these data into education and injury prevention frameworks in sport. Clear communication using practical tools is important for sports organisations and advocates seeking to uphold a duty of care to athletes.
• Sexualized and Athletic: Viewers’ Attitudes toward Sexualized Performance Images of Female Athletes, opens in a new tab, Elizabeth Daniels, Amanda Hood, Nicole LaVoi, et.al., Sex Roles, Volume 84, pp.112-124, (2021). Using an experimental methodology, the present study investigated college students’ attitudes toward media images of female athletes. We are particularly focused on how viewers perceive media images of female athletes that have both an appearance and athleticism focus, such as those found in ESPN’s The Body Issue. U.S. college students (n = 563) viewed one of four types of images of the same athletes including: (a) sexualized athletes, (b) sexualized performance athletes (in which both athleticism and sexualization are present), (c) sport performance athletes (in which athletes are depicted playing their sport), or (d) non-sexualized athletes. They then rated the athletes’ competence, esteem, and sexual appeal. Overall, sexualized performance athletes were rated more positively than sexualized athletes, but less positively than sport performance athletes. These results have implications for advocacy efforts calling for more media coverage in which women are depicted as athletes rather than as sexual objects.
• Jocks versus jockettes: An analysis of the visual portrayal of male and female cover models on sports magazines, opens in a new tab, Ben Wasike. Journalism, Volume 21(10), pp.1432-1449, (2020). There are known gender-based disparities in sports news coverage. However, few have examined how these disparities manifest in sports news visuals such as sports magazine covers. Therefore, this study examined pertinent dynamics among all covers published to date for both Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. The study examined sexualization, camera angle, and nonverbal communication cues and their interplay with gender. Women appearing on the covers were likelier than men to be portrayed in a sexualized manner, in terms of skin exposure and suggestive poses. Men were likelier to be portrayed in active poses, and the cover lines emphasized gender over athletic achievement for women. The results also indicate that women were more likely to be portrayed smiling, as well as being portrayed in more positive camera angle shots. The author discusses the ramifications of gendered portrayal regarding sports magazines.
• Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement, opens in a new tab, Reardon CL, Hainline B, Aron CM, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 53(11), pp.667-699, (2019). This consensus paper addresses the multifaceted aspects of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes. The intended audience includes sport and exercise medicine physicians and other clinicians (including physiotherapists and athletic trainers), psychiatrists and other licensed mental health providers, other mental health and performance professionals who work with elite athletes, researchers in the fields of elite athlete mental health and clinical or institutional leaders/administrators who are stakeholders in sport.
• Sporting Women and Social Media: Sexualization, Misogyny, and Gender-Based Violence in Online Spaces, opens in a new tab, Emma Kavanagh, Chelsea Litchfield, Jaquelyn Osborne, International Journal of Sport Communication, Volume 12(4), pp.552-572, (2019). This study investigated gender-based violence targeting high-profile women in virtual environments through the case of women’s tennis. 2 popular social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) were analyzed to examine social commentary and fan interaction surrounding the top-5-seeded female tennis players during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Athletes were exposed to violent interactions in a number of ways. Four themes were identified through data analysis: threats of physical violence, sexualization that focused on the female physical appearance, sexualization that expressed desire and/or proposed physical or sexual contact, and sexualization that was vile, explicit, and threateningly violent in a sexual or misogynistic manner. Findings demonstrate how social media provides a space for unregulated gender-based cyberhate targeting high-profile women in their workplace in a way that traditional sport media does not.