The Conceptualization of Fitness Doping and its Limitations

This paper examines the conceptualization of fitness doping and its limits. Much attention of the media and social sciences researchers has been focused on doping in an elite sport context. What is less developed is a sociological understanding of fitness doping. Over the past decade, anti-doping in fitness settings has been on the political agenda of official organizations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency. But, as this paper will show through a review of available studies and discussions on bodywork and fitness doping, the official definition of doping developed in and for an elite sport context does not facilitate a nuanced understanding of fitness doping. This literature review highlights how illegal substances are taken in order to enhance body appearance – appearance that tends to comply with generally held ideals of masculinity/femininity. From this perspective, doping is being used for enhancement purposes in a societal context where optimization and performance are important