Table 1

Vulnerability factors and potential individual and systemic remedies

Potential remedies

Vulnerability

Individual (therapy style, one on one intervention)

Systemic (system level adjustment)

Compulsiveness

Perspective taking, balanced life goals

Athletes as a person, not result-generating device

Single mindedness

Self-esteem work: winner vs. worthwhile, self-respecting person

Career transition (i.e. life after sport)

Risk aversion

Communicate the risk: health, legal, financial, social, psychological

Support independent research re toxicity of PE methods to established standard

Expediency

Value system, collaborative work

Replace prohibition with mandatory informed consent and supervision Incentives for fair play

Petróczi and Aidman Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2008 3:7   doi:10.1186/1747-597X-3-7