Although the source is a reliable one, with strengths in its reliability and range of sources, it may have a weakness. For example the website is the official website for the IOC so could therefore be bias towards its procedures and the overall success of the games, in terms of drug testing. The website is clearly not going to highlight possible faults with its procedure, testing and running of the games. It would only state, and does state, the constant evolution and need of change to the drug testing process. The website and its links state results from actual tests undertaken by athletes, highlighting that more have been caught than before but using this as a positive statement in their effectiveness. This could also be seen as a negative outcome as maybe the testing wasn’t as advanced for previous games as it is now, so maybe more athletes got away with it.
Reference 2
Bose.M, (2005) “Former anti-drugs chief slams British complacency” The Telegraph, 24 Mar (available at )
This second source comes from an online newspaper article. The article is about the Government's decision not to make the International Convention against Doping in Sport part of the UK law. The article is based on the comments published in the paper which said that “A spokesman for sports minister Richard Caborn claims Britain leads the way against doping in sport, ahead of countries such as France and Italy.”
It continues in comparing other European countries policies, such as France and Italy as well as the United States, on the subject. It also talks about the last UNESCO convention on anti-doping and that it was drawn up in 1989 and the other countries in Europe made it part of their law and France, Italy and 42 other countries made it a criminal offence with a two-year prison sentence for those caught doping.
The article is a reasonably up to date source published on the 23rd of March in this year. The author is one of the telegraphs regular reporters called Mihir Bose, with a daily column in the sport section of the paper. Mihir Bose also reports for the Guardian. The article comes from the telegraph newspaper, a daily broadsheet with a broad and general target audience. Taking this into consideration you have to look at the commercial and professional implications. Commercially the paper will be tailored to accommodate to its target audience for better sales and profits. The article is a sport story but also seems to have some sort of political agenda. The tone of the article seems to be very cynical with the use of words such as “claims” and “controversial” and with the inclusion of the phrase “ahead of countries such as France and Italy” at the end of the paragraph detailed above. It seems this phrase is written in a shocked and sceptical manner. The articles sources mainly come from quotes but the interviews themselves are not included in there entirety. The interviews could therefore have easily been edited in a way that supports the reporters’ point of view and opinion. Care must be taken in using newspaper articles as many show bias towards the columnists’ beliefs. Although the telegraph has more reliability than other daily tabloid papers, being a broadsheet, you still have to take care when using newspaper sources as they are non academic. The article in question was written by a columnist who writes for two established papers that are the more reliable of most newspapers. He therefore does have a slight level of expertise in his field. You also do get a different perspective on the story in question; you get both his opinion and also a slight view into the perspective of the interviewees. Rooted in the history of the telegraph it seems that it generally supports the right of centre point of view, with an opinion that supports the Tory party.
Reference 3
, , , , (2005) “Task force 9: Drugs and performance-enhancing substances” JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY 45 (8): 1368-1369 APR 19 2005, available at l=%2Fbin%2Fcommon%2Fcourse.pl%3Fcourse_id%3D_36207_1
My third source is a sports journal found on the ISI Web of Knowledge (available via the ISI web of Knowledge and found on Science Direct). The following is its abstract “Athletes commonly use drugs and dietary supplements because they hope to improve athletic performance. These performance-enhancing substances include ergogenic and thermogenic supplements, stimulants, anabolic steroids, peptide hormones, and others. Despite aggressive marketing and user testimonials, scientific studies assessing the benefits and risks of any of these substances have not been conducted. Clinical observations indicate some supplements may have serious side effects including fatal adverse reactions. Athletes should make informed decisions regarding the use of drugs and dietary supplements with careful consideration of what is known and unknown. Health care professionals should ask about drug and dietary supplements and serve as an educational resource for athletes and athletic organizations”
The journal article is a reliable source of information as it is an academic publication, a professional piece of work. Journals are peer reviewed articles so their publication process is greatly sped up. The journal therefore has a high level of expertise as the authors, who are experts themselves, have presented there study and findings to a panel of other academics who have passed it through the rigorous publication process. As the journal was published this year the article has very up to date and current information. Journals are generally a highly esteemed resource as the studies have been involved in extensive research and conclusions are made from the data that has been analysed. The journal has reliable and transparent methods and results. The article takes on a very educational and informative tone. It is deliberately aimed at other academics and athletes, intended as the abstract says to help athletes make informed decisions, and it shows them the effect of performance enhancing substances as well as the different forms they take on. Its target audience is therefore quite limited so bias in terms of commercial value can be ruled out.
Although the source is not directly linked to the Athens Games it is a valuable source as it provides background information and resources in the intended field of research and enquiry. It shows what performance enhancing substances are on offer, the effect of such substances and could therefore greatly help in the control of illegal substances as athletes are educated and informed of what is right and wrong to use. Its conclusions are purely based on the findings the study has made so it is also non biased from this point of view as it is very hard to manipulate results to reinforce an opinion.
