Author(s): OLDHAM, A., SCHNEIDER, A., Institution: INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR OLYMPIC STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 2714

Introduction:
‘Spirit of sport’ is a phrase most commonly associated with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) 'World Anti-Doping Code' where violating the ‘spirit of sport’ is the third criterion (along with enhancing performance and potential/real risk of harm) on their two-of-three check list for banning a substance. While WADA’s inclusion of the ‘spirit of sport’ criterion has its critics and its defenders (e.g. Loland & McNamee 2019), what is less discussed is the definition and application of the concept itself.
Methods:
This study presents a conceptual analysis of the definition and application of the ‘spirit of sport’ as it has evolved since its introduction into sport discourse in the 1990s.
Results:
By looking at how the concept of the ‘spirit of sport’ has been defined and applied over the last three decades, it is clear that the overwhelming presence of the phrase within the anti-doping discourse reflects a corresponding dearth of application in a positive context within broader sport discourse.
Discussion:
It is our contention that the definition and application of the concept of the ‘spirit of sport’ should be more broadly understood beyond simply the context of anti-doping. Challenges to overly narrow and internally inconsistent definitions should be acknowledged and the complexity and nuance of reality be more clearly articulated so that everyone can not only grasp more fully what is meant by ‘spirit of sport’, but be able to relate the concept to their own experience of joy that underpins our shared love of sport in the first place.