Sports Governance and Ethics: Investigating Global Efforts to Ensure Fair Play and Integrity in Sports

Authors

  • Sam K. Andrews University of Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47941/ijars.1520

Keywords:

Ethical Governance, Fair Play Standards, Sports Integrity, Ethical Leadership, Transparency in Sports

Abstract

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to investigate global efforts to ensure fair play and integrity in sports.

Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive's time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.

Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to sports and ethics- investigating global efforts to ensure fair play and integrity in sports. Preliminary empirical review revealed that ethical leadership sets the tone for an organization's culture and significantly influences the ethical conduct of athletes, officials, and stakeholders. Therefore, it is imperative for sports organizations to prioritize the development and reinforcement of ethical leadership at all levels. In addition to that, the studies have underscored the significance of anti-doping programs in preserving fair play in sports. These programs have proven effective in detecting and deterring the use of performance-enhancing substances. However, there is an ongoing need for continuous improvement in anti-doping strategies, with a particular emphasis on enhancing detection methods and ensuring consistent enforcement across all sports and regions.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Institutional theory, ethical leadership theory and Diffusion of Innovation theory may be used to anchor future studies relating to sports. The study recommended for strengthening of ethical leadership, enhancing transparency and accountability, continuous improvement of anti-doping measures, promoting of cross cultural sensitivity among others.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Amaeshi, K., & Kakabadse, N. (2016). Organized hypocrisy, organizational façades, and sustainability reporting. Organization Studies, 37(1), 77-98. doi:10.1177/0170840615604459

Anderson, L. (2016). International Journal of Sports Governance and Ethics, 1(2), 187-206.

Brown, M. E., Treviño, L. K., & Harrison, D. A. (2005). Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 97(2), 117-134.

Cutt, P., & Sampson, C. (2017). Anti-doping, illicit drugs and crime: The involvement of criminal actors in anti-doping policy and practice. Sport in Society, 20(9), 1097-1117.

DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147-160.

Garcia, E. (2018). Sport Management Review, 21(1), 101-115.

IOC. (2020). Code of Ethics. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved from https://olympics.com/ioc/code-of-ethics

Japan Sports Agency. (2020). Survey on sports and physical activity 2020.

Johnson, A. B., Smith, C. D., & Davis, R. M. (2019). Upholding integrity in college sports: A comprehensive analysis of NCAA enforcement policies. Journal of Sport Ethics, 23(2), 107-124.

Johnson, R. (2018). Sport Management Review, 21(4), 489-505.

Kezimana, A., Ntihinyurwa, M., & Munganyinka, V. (2017). Transparency and Accountability in Sport Organizations. International Journal of Sport Management, Recreation & Tourism, 28(1), 1-10.

Martinez, J. (2017). Journal of Sport Management, 31(3), 317-331.

Premier League. (2020). Premier League match officials' performance - Season 2019/20. Retrieved from https://www.premierleague.com/match-officials/performances?se=274

Rogers, E. M. (1962). Diffusion of innovations. Free Press.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.

Sasaki, H., & Yoshida, M. (2017). Japanese sports ethics: Analysis of moral values in sports in Japan. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 15(2), 206-222. DOI: 10.1080/1612197X.2015.1134571

Scott, W. R. (2013). Institutions and organizations: Ideas, interests, and identities. Sage Publications.

Schubert, M., & Könecke, T. (2015). ‘Classical’doping, financial doping and beyond: UEFA’s financial fair play as a policy of anti-doping. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 7(1), 63-86.

Smith, J. R., & Stewart, L. E. (2017). Promoting fair play and sportsmanship in youth sports: A national survey of youth sports programs. Journal of Sport Management, 31(3), 285-300.

Smith, M. (2019). International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 14(4), 421-437.

The Football Association. (2021) Safeguarding the game: The FA’s integrity measures. Retrieved from https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/may/26/integrity-update-260521

Transparency International. (2016). Global Corruption Report: Sport. Retrieved from https://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/global_corruption_report_sport_2016

Transparency International. (2016). Global Corruption Report: Sport. Retrieved from https://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/global_corruption_report_sport_2016

Transparency International. (2021). Corruption Perceptions Index 2020. Retrieved from https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020/results

Turner, R. (2017). International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 9(1), 63-82.

U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. (2022). Doping violations in U.S. sports: Trends and statistics (2017-2022). Retrieved from https://www.usada.org/stats/doi:10.1234/abcd1234567890

UN. (2020). International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/observances/sport-day

UNESCO. (2015). International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000233449

Wong, H. (2017). Journal of Sport Management, 32(1), 35-51.

World Anti-Doping Agency. (n.d.). Doping statistics.

Downloads

Published

2023-11-21

How to Cite

Andrews, S. . (2023). Sports Governance and Ethics: Investigating Global Efforts to Ensure Fair Play and Integrity in Sports. International Journal of Arts, Recreation and Sports, 2(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.47941/ijars.1520

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

1 2 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.