Key findings of the research project “Top athletes and the media: an analysis of the perception and evaluation of doping reporting and subjectively perceived physical and mental performance” (SpitzDoBe) were presented and discussed on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in the Audi Lounge at the TUM Campus in the Olympic Park. The 18-month project has been running since June 2024 and will end in December 2025. It is the fourth third-party funded project of the Institute of Media and Communication in cooperation with the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics on the topic of “Doping and Doping Reporting” and is funded with approximately 110,000 euros.
The research team led by Prof. Dr. Michael Schaffrath, head of the Institute of Media and Communication, and Dr. Thorsten Schulz, Research Associate at the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, investigated how top athletes perceive and evaluate doping reporting and to what extent this reporting influences their physical and mental performance. The project was supported by Dr. Peter Spitzenpfeil, head of the Applied Sports Science Unit. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), Athleten Deutschland e.V., the Olympic Training Center Bavaria, and the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) were recruited as external cooperation partners. Methodologically, the study consists of 16 guided interviews and a nationwide online survey of 349 athletes.
“The results now available show very clearly how challenging it is for athletes to deal with doping reporting and what responsibility the media bear in this context,” explained Prof. Schaffrath. “The symposium offers an important platform for discussing these findings with representatives from sports, associations, and journalism and for deriving concrete ideas for the further development of anti-doping work.”
Jessica Ottmann, a Research Associate, summarized the qualitative analysis: “The study shows very clearly that athletes are not only the subject of reporting, but also formulate their own media expectations. At the same time, the results illustrate how strongly communication processes can influence well-being and performance in elite sports.”
A highlight of the symposium, which was also attended by a large number of sports journalists – including from ZDF, BR, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Deutsche Presseagentur (dpa), BILD-Zeitung, Merkur, and tz – was the panel discussion with Annika Kollenbroich (Communications & Marketing Officer, NADA), André Keil (President of the Association of German Sports Journalists) and sabre fencer Léa Krüger, Vice President of Athleten Deutschland e. V., who joined online. Together with Prof. Schaffrath, they discussed the responsibility of journalistic reporting, how to deal with suspected cases, and the protection of athletes from digital hostility.
Krüger emphasized that athletes can distinguish between sensationalist and nuanced reporting: “You need a headline to get people to read your story – but it's the job of media professionals to show that there's more to the story than the headline.” At the same time, she pointed out the high level of stress caused by public prejudgment and made it clear that fair reporting often requires transparency on the part of athletes.
From NADA's perspective, Kollenbroich emphasized the importance of diligence and legal frameworks. “The vast majority of reporting is well researched,” she explained, but admitted that mistakes do occur, which are then actively addressed. As a general rule, “We at NADA only publish once a case has been closed and all the results are on the table.”
Keil pointed to structural challenges in sports journalism and a continuing high level of ignorance in society about doping. “We have a level of ignorance throughout society that brings tears to your eyes,” said the multimedia editor-in-chief at NDR's regional broadcasting center in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, emphasizing the high cost of journalistic specialization. Reporting on suspicions is subject to strict legal scrutiny: “These hurdles are enormous.” The panel agreed that doping should not be allowed under any circumstances. Krüger summed it up clearly: “Should doping be allowed? No - that would completely destroy the integrity of sport.”
The results presented at the symposium provide comprehensive insight into the impact of doping reporting from the perspective of athletes. In the future, they will help to derive targeted measures for anti-doping work and raise awareness among both athletes and media representatives of the importance of responsible doping communication.
“The aim of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of media discourse on doping on athletes and to derive concrete, practical recommendations for action for elite sports and sports journalism,” summarized Prof. Schaffrath. At the same time, he made it clear that the topics of doping and doping reporting will continue to play a central role at TUM beyond the current project and that scientific debate on these issues will continue.
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Contact:
Prof. Dr. Michael Schaffrath
Institute of Media and Communication
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 München
phone: 089 289 24639
e-mail: michael.schaffrath(at)tum.de
Jessica Ottmann
Institute of Media and Communication
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 München
phone: 089 289 24638
e-mail: jessica.ottmann(at)tum.de
Text & Photos: Romy Schwaiger