Table 3 Comparison of ALPHA scores between doping control experience and anti-doping education experience (N = 590)

1. How can an athlete with a medical condition decide whether to take a medication?

411 (69.7)

239 (74.2)

172 (64.2)

p = 0.008

38 (37.3)

158 (68.4)

215 (83.7)

p < 0.001

2. What are the athlete’s rights when a positive test is returned?

334 (56.6)

183 (56.3)

151 (56.3)

p = 0.905

57 (55.9)

124 (53.7)

153 (59.5)

p = 0.422

3. What are the side effects of using anabolic steroids?

348 (59.0)

191 (59.3)

157 (58.6)

p = 0.857

46 (45.1)

117 (50.6)

185 (72.0)

p < 0.001

4. What condition allows an athlete to refuse to be tested?

561 (95.1)

315 (97.8)

246 (91.8)

p = 0.001

88 (86.3)

220 (95.2)

253 (98.4)

p < 0.001

5. What does TUE stand for?

436 (73.9)

256 (79.5)

180 (67.2)

p = 0.001

52 (51.0)

173 (74.9)

211 (82.1)

p < 0.001

6. What is the philosophy behind anti-doping?

143 (24.2)

86 (26.7)

57 (21.3)

p = 0.125

15 (14.7)

61 (26.4)

67 (26.1)

p = 0.047

7. What is the Prohibited List?

488 (82.7)

277 (86.0)

211 (78.7)

p = 0.020

68 (66.7)

193 (83.5)

227 (88.3)

p < 0.001

8. What is the purpose of the World Anti-Doping Code?

296 (50.2)

169 (52.5)

127 (47.4)

p = 0.218

39 (38.2)

115 (49.8)

142 (55.3)

p = 0.014

9. What is the requirement for laboratories that analyze blood or urine samples for doping control?

433 (73.4)

270 (83.9)

163 (60.8)

p < 0.001

47 (46.1)

159 (68.8)

227 (88.3)

p < 0.001

10. When do athletes have to tell their National Anti-Doping Organization where they will be living, training and competing?

386 (65.4)

230 (71.4)

156 (58.2)

p = 0.001

53 (52.0)

132 (57.1)

201 (78.2)

p < 0.001

11. When must an athlete be notified of an upcoming test?

338 (57.3)

205 (63.7)

133 (49.6)

p = 0.001

46 (45.1)

109 (47.2)

183 (71.2)

p < 0.001

12. Who is responsible for the substances found in an athlete’s body?

445 (75.4)

250 (77.6)

195 (72.8)

p = 0.171

59 (57.8)

171 (74.0)

215 (83.7)

p < 0.001