Science mapping of social science research on anti-doping from 2004 to 2025: Insights into knowledge structures, focus of domains, and future directions

Background World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) implemented the first World Anti-Doping Code in 2004 and launched its Social Science Research (SSR) program. Since then, there has been no comprehensive synthesis of the knowledge on how anti-doping SSR evolved. This review, therefore, employed a science-mapping approach to examine the knowledge structures and domain focus within anti-doping SSR. Methods A total of 431 social science research articles published between January 2004 and August 2025 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection for science mapping. An expert panel reviewed these publications using a staged cross-validation process, assessing their domain focus, level of influence, alignment with WADA’s SSR priorities, and position within an international consensus on anti-doping SSR agenda. Results Anti-doping SSR over the period 2004-2025 demonstrated enriched knowledge structures at the social (e.g., collaboration networks), intellectual (e.g., research clusters, keyword bursts), and conceptual (e.g., thematic mapping and evolution) levels. The results of the expert panel review revealed significant shifts in the focus of anti-doping SSR domains and methodological approaches, within the level of influence, WADA’s SSR priorities, and the international consensus SSR agenda. Conclusions The findings reveal a shift toward embracing more comprehensive social science methods to inform real-world anti-doping efforts. Researchers should critically address key gaps, such as the underrepresentation of consensus agendas, evaluate alternative anti-doping models, and embrace robust behavioural science. Funders should broaden their priorities to support challenging inquiry. Causal, behaviour-driven, and long-term impact evidence are needed to inform technology-empowered, effective, and ethically sound anti-doping practices.