THE PROBLEM OF DOPING – NEW TRENDS IN TEACHING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Doping is an immense problem of sport worldwide. The phenomenon involves not only athletes themselves but also other individuals operating in the environment. A significant factor is also the activity of coaches/instructors, who can influence, either positively or negatively, the athlete’s attitude to this “evil of sport”.

In its introduction, the article deals with the present situation of doping in the sport environment. Its main part is focused on the development and the current situation of “teaching the problem of doping” to university students of physical education and sport in the Czech Republic. Summarizing the scope and content of teaching at faculties specializing in physical education and pedagogy, it points out a certain fundamental problem, where teaching is usually concerned with mere summarization of the basic principles of doping, individual methods and groups of substances or possibly some health risks. Furthermore, the text presents some recommendations related to new trends in this kind of teaching. Nowadays, it is required that students become familiarized with specific anti-doping procedures that will enable greater efficiency in combatting the ever-spreading phenomenon of the sport environment. The article summarizes some important factors, influences and customs in “anti-doping education” and presents information on appropriate procedures in the area of doping prevention, which is suitably complemented with specific examples enabling students to obtain knowledge of this problem, required for their future coaching/teaching activity.