Sociological analysis of academic discussions on doping

This article explores the production of knowledge on doping and anti-doping through the lens of the sociology of science, focusing on themes such as epistemic communities and the cumulativity of knowledge. Using a corpus of 177 scientific papers authored by 211 researchers, we examine what sociology reveals—and overlooks doping and anti-doping, identifying existing knowledge gaps and areas for further exploration. Our inquiry refines key questions: can researchers in this field be considered part of an epistemic community with shared beliefs and practices? Additionally, does knowledge produced in this domain accumulate over time? Findings highlight the fragmented nature of sociological contributions, with limited theoretical coherence, significant compartmentalization of approaches, and regional disparities concentrated in Northern Europe and North America. Clusters of researchers with shared topics and methodologies exist, but evidence of cumulative knowledge across subfields remains scarce. To address these challenges, we advocate the creation of an anti-doping observatory to catalog research, foster collaboration, and align academic contributions with institutional needs. This initiative aims to enhance both the sociology of science and the impact of anti-doping efforts.