Doping in Sport: Delineating the Issues of Responsibility of the Athlete and the Coach

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the problem of doping in sport with an emphasis on the difficulties that arise when delineating responsibility between an athlete and a coach for violating anti-doping rules. The article examines the legal, ethical and psychosocial aspects of responsibility, analyzes existing ap-proaches to determining guilt and penalties applied to athletes and coaches. A review of domestic and foreign literature on this issue is conducted, gaps and contradictions are identified. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the specifics of Russian realities that necessitate revising certain provisions of the anti-doping system and strengthening the protection of athletes’ rights. The article offers specific recommendations for improving legislation, improving the qualifications of specialists, strengthening control over the activities of coaches and developing more flexible systems of sanctions that take into account the degree of guilt and mitigating circumstances. A conclusion is made about the need for a balanced approach that combines the strictness of anti-doping rules with respect for the rights and legitimate interests of athletes and coaches.