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Competition, Gender Equality, and Doping in Sports in the Red Queen Effect Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Yalcin Uyar

    (Faculty of Sport Science, Ankara University, Ankara 06560, Turkey)

  • Ambra Gentile

    (Sport and Exercise Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy)

  • Hamza Uyar

    (Faculty of Sport Science, Gazi University, Ankara 06560, Turkey)

  • Övünç Erdeveciler

    (Faculty of Sport Science, Ankara University, Ankara 06560, Turkey)

  • Hakan Sunay

    (Faculty of Sport Science, Ankara University, Ankara 06560, Turkey)

  • Veronica Mîndrescu

    (Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Department of Motor Performance, Transivania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania)

  • Dino Mujkic

    (Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

  • Antonino Bianco

    (Sport and Exercise Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

The nature of sports is characterized by a strong competitive component that generates inequalities among athletes at different levels, specifically in relation to gender, technology, and doping. These inequalities can be represented according to the Red Queen effect perspective, which has been previously hypothesized in other competitive environments (evolutionary biology and economics, for instance). The Red Queen effect considers each competitive environment to require a constant effort to maintain a position of competitive advantage in order reach the best result possible. Therefore, the aim of the current paper is to provide an innovative perspective for the understanding of competition in sports, identifying factors (i.e., physical appearance for gender equality, socioeconomic status of a sport team for technology, and antidoping rules for doping) influencing athletes’ possibilities to win a competition. Concerning gender differences, the disparity between genders reflects a lower coverage in sports news, and media are more likely to focus on female athletes’ physical appearance than their performance in sports. Therefore, women struggle more with increasing their visibility and in affirming their status as an athlete. On the other hand, the introduction of science and technological innovations in sports has generated economic interests in sport competitions, which reached superior performance levels compared to the past. Teams that cannot afford financial burdens of technological innovation risk being left out from sport competitions. Finally, doping creates a Red Queen environment since antidoping rules catch a small portion of athletes using performance enhancement drugs.

Suggested Citation

  • Yalcin Uyar & Ambra Gentile & Hamza Uyar & Övünç Erdeveciler & Hakan Sunay & Veronica Mîndrescu & Dino Mujkic & Antonino Bianco, 2022. "Competition, Gender Equality, and Doping in Sports in the Red Queen Effect Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-8, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2490-:d:755334
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vanessa Ratten, 2019. "Sports Technology and Innovation," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-319-75046-0, September.
    2. William P. Barnett & Olav Sorenson, 2002. "The Red Queen in organizational creation and development," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 11(2), pages 289-325.
    3. Uri Gneezy & Muriel Niederle & Aldo Rustichini, 2003. "Performance in Competitive Environments: Gender Differences," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 118(3), pages 1049-1074.
    4. William Baumol, 2004. "Red-Queen games: arms races, rule of law and market economies," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 237-247, June.
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