ABSTRACT
In the preceding chapters, the different aspects of a dynamically evolving scientific field of the psychology of doping use in sports were presented. Although the seed for this growth was planted some 20 years ago (e.g., Anshel and Russell 1997; Laure and Reinsberger 1995), it is within the last decade that the field has flourished and reached one of its first research milestones with over 150 published scientific articles encompassing different theoretical perspectives, methodologies, and concepts (for a meta-analysis see Ntoumanis et al. 2014). At this point in time, the direction that needs to be taken is to engage in critical reflection, and develop a strategic vision for research progress for the next phase of research on the psychology of doping use. In the present chapter important aspects of research in the psychology of doping use are discussed, and the relevant themes are outlined in ten big questions that may guide future research in this area. These questions are relevant to theory development, methodological issues in doping research, dilemmas concerning the role of sporting values and the ethics of doping, as well as developments in the design and delivery of evidence-based anti-doping interventions.
