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The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes

Julia Cook, Andrew Bloodworth Orcid Logo, Luke Cox Orcid Logo, Michael McNamee Orcid Logo

International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Volume: 17, Issue: 3, Pages: 487 - 507

Swansea University Authors: Julia Cook, Andrew Bloodworth Orcid Logo, Luke Cox Orcid Logo, Michael McNamee Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1080/19406940.2025.2529203

Abstract

Despite the rise of intelligence and investigation methods in sport integrity policy and practice, there is a dearth of social scientific research around the ethics of their use. We critically examine whether these techniques are a proportionate, and thus ethically justifiable, response to sport int...

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Published in: International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
ISSN: 1940-6940 1940-6959
Published: Informa UK Limited 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69867
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The study concludes that demand rules are not justifiably proportionate for general use in sports integrity investigations since they present athletes with a coercive offer to choose between rule-observance and career success. We recommend that integrity bodies work to develop a harmonised approach, with more precise guidance on the determination of limited situations where these rules should be applied. Furthermore, we call for greater dialogue between athletes and integrity organisations to protect athlete rights and promote trust among stakeholders. 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spelling 2025-11-10T12:41:03.2907330 v2 69867 2025-07-03 The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes 6a5d557a36a562dc3ca3ab5053ce63f5 Julia Cook Julia Cook true false 3d3183652dd8a45724e24c671b295889 0000-0002-4601-442X Andrew Bloodworth Andrew Bloodworth true false 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d 0000-0001-7625-4603 Luke Cox Luke Cox true false 85b0b1623e55d977378622a6aab7ee6e 0000-0002-5857-909X Michael McNamee Michael McNamee true false 2025-07-03 Despite the rise of intelligence and investigation methods in sport integrity policy and practice, there is a dearth of social scientific research around the ethics of their use. We critically examine whether these techniques are a proportionate, and thus ethically justifiable, response to sport integrity threats. The aim of this interdisciplinary investigation was to explore the ethics of intelligence-led investigations, with particular focus on rules that allow integrity organisations to demand athletes’ personal information and private objects, such as phones and bank statements, from athletes during investigations. To fulfill this aim, semi-structured interviews with 15 integrity officers and 5 athlete representatives were undertaken. This qualitative study was conducted within a critical realist framework. Some Integrity Officers defended the rules, with the challenge of evidence gathering cited as necessitating them. Others, along with Athlete Representatives, conveyed ethical concerns. These novel findings have implications for integrity policy, education, and athletes’ rights. The study concludes that demand rules are not justifiably proportionate for general use in sports integrity investigations since they present athletes with a coercive offer to choose between rule-observance and career success. We recommend that integrity bodies work to develop a harmonised approach, with more precise guidance on the determination of limited situations where these rules should be applied. Furthermore, we call for greater dialogue between athletes and integrity organisations to protect athlete rights and promote trust among stakeholders. Finally, the education of athletes on investigatory powers and potential seizures of personal objects will ensure athletes are aware of their rights. Journal Article International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics 17 3 487 507 Informa UK Limited 1940-6940 1940-6959 Sport integrity; intelligence; investigations; doping; competition manipulation; athlete rights 6 7 2025 2025-07-06 10.1080/19406940.2025.2529203 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council, as part of the first author’s Doctoral Training Partnership. 2025-11-10T12:41:03.2907330 2025-07-03T09:26:59.3161183 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences Julia Cook 1 Andrew Bloodworth 0000-0002-4601-442X 2 Luke Cox 0000-0001-7625-4603 3 Michael McNamee 0000-0002-5857-909X 4 69867__34844__67c0fcbb0b1548a4ab88940182fed642.pdf 69867.VoR.pdf 2025-07-25T15:17:34.0943267 Output 748247 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes
spellingShingle The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes
Julia Cook
Andrew Bloodworth
Luke Cox
Michael McNamee
title_short The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes
title_full The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes
title_fullStr The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes
title_full_unstemmed The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes
title_sort The ethics of sports integrity investigations and the power of sport integrity bodies to compulsorily demand information and personal devices from athletes
author_id_str_mv 6a5d557a36a562dc3ca3ab5053ce63f5
3d3183652dd8a45724e24c671b295889
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author_id_fullname_str_mv 6a5d557a36a562dc3ca3ab5053ce63f5_***_Julia Cook
3d3183652dd8a45724e24c671b295889_***_Andrew Bloodworth
9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d_***_Luke Cox
85b0b1623e55d977378622a6aab7ee6e_***_Michael McNamee
author Julia Cook
Andrew Bloodworth
Luke Cox
Michael McNamee
author2 Julia Cook
Andrew Bloodworth
Luke Cox
Michael McNamee
format Journal article
container_title International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
container_volume 17
container_issue 3
container_start_page 487
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 1940-6940
1940-6959
doi_str_mv 10.1080/19406940.2025.2529203
publisher Informa UK Limited
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
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description Despite the rise of intelligence and investigation methods in sport integrity policy and practice, there is a dearth of social scientific research around the ethics of their use. We critically examine whether these techniques are a proportionate, and thus ethically justifiable, response to sport integrity threats. The aim of this interdisciplinary investigation was to explore the ethics of intelligence-led investigations, with particular focus on rules that allow integrity organisations to demand athletes’ personal information and private objects, such as phones and bank statements, from athletes during investigations. To fulfill this aim, semi-structured interviews with 15 integrity officers and 5 athlete representatives were undertaken. This qualitative study was conducted within a critical realist framework. Some Integrity Officers defended the rules, with the challenge of evidence gathering cited as necessitating them. Others, along with Athlete Representatives, conveyed ethical concerns. These novel findings have implications for integrity policy, education, and athletes’ rights. The study concludes that demand rules are not justifiably proportionate for general use in sports integrity investigations since they present athletes with a coercive offer to choose between rule-observance and career success. We recommend that integrity bodies work to develop a harmonised approach, with more precise guidance on the determination of limited situations where these rules should be applied. Furthermore, we call for greater dialogue between athletes and integrity organisations to protect athlete rights and promote trust among stakeholders. Finally, the education of athletes on investigatory powers and potential seizures of personal objects will ensure athletes are aware of their rights.
published_date 2025-07-06T05:25:04Z
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