OTTY Method #1 – Doping, Adolescence, and the Three Risk Factors

The OTTY partnership proudly presents the release of OTTY Method #1: “Doping, Adolescence, and the Three Risk Factors”, the first publication developed within the Erasmus+ Sport project OTTY – Only Thanks To You.

This first method marks an important milestone for the project, aiming to provide youth workers, coaches, teachers, and parents with a deeper understanding of the roots of doping among young people — and how to prevent it through education, awareness, and dialogue.

A comprehensive look at a hidden phenomenon

OTTY Method #1 offers a clear and accessible exploration of the doping phenomenon — not as a technical or medical issue only, but as a cultural and social challenge.It reveals how doping has evolved from ancient traditions to modern-day practices that now affect not only professional athletes but also young people in schools, gyms, and amateur sports.

The document explains in simple yet precise language how performance-enhancing substances act on the body and mind, the health risks they carry, and the psychological and ethical implications that come with them.Far from being limited to the world of elite sport, doping today reflects a broader social model that glorifies performance, perfection, and speed — values that deeply affect adolescents.

Adolescence: a fragile and formative age

The publication dedicates a full chapter to adolescence, describing it as a time of transformation and vulnerability, when young people are still building their identity and self-esteem. In this delicate phase, sport can be a space of growth — but also of pressure, comparison, and insecurity.

Through research and educational insight, OTTY Method #1 explores why some teenagers may be tempted by shortcuts such as doping:the desire to improve quickly, to meet expectations, or to feel accepted.Prevention, the text stresses, must focus not on fear or punishment, but on understanding, empathy, and credible education.

The three risk factors

The heart of OTTY Method #1 lies in the identification of three key risk factors that influence doping behaviour among young people:

• The family environment, where excessive pressure, lack of dialogue, or unfulfilled expectations can fuel insecurity;

• The sports system, which sometimes values performance over personal growth and lacks educational tools for coaches;

• Society, which constantly glorifies image, perfection, and success, leaving little space for imperfection and gradual improvement.

The text highlights that doping is not the result of an individual’s weakness, but rather the outcome of these interconnected pressures. For this reason, effective prevention must involve families, schools, clubs, and communities working together.

Education as prevention

At its core, OTTY Method #1 is a call to action for educators and adults.It reminds us that young people need support, listening, and realistic examples more than judgment or punishment.Prevention is most effective when it becomes part of everyday education — when effort, self-knowledge, and care are valued more than results.

By offering a mix of scientific data, historical context, and educational reflection, this first OTTY publication helps us understand that the fight against doping begins long before the test — it begins in education, relationships, and trust.

Read and share

OTTY Method #1 – Doping, Adolescence, and the Three Risk Factors is now available for free on the official project website:👉 www.oltrenetworklab.com/otty

Through this first milestone, the OTTY partners reaffirm their commitment to building a new culture of sport — one that values health, respect, and authenticity over appearance and performance.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.