Characteristics of the Internal and External Environments of the Anti-Doping Education System in Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract: The issue of developing and implementing educational programs within the anti-doping system has gained considerable attention in both global and national academic discourse. The purpose of the study is to provide a scientifically grounded characterization of the internal and external environments of the anti-doping education system in Ukraine, to identify the “core” of priority effectiveness factors, and to outline strategic orientations for designing a structural-functional model of educational program development and implementation. Methods: analysis of specialized literature and regulatory documents, synthesis of national surveys of athletes and coaches, and an expert survey (n = 15) involving the ranking of factors within SWOT analysis groups. The consistency of expert judgments was verified using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Prioritization was conducted according to the 80% cumulative cut-off rule (Pareto principle). Results. The key strengths of the internal environment include the involvement of clean sport ambassadors (mean rank 2.20), access to ADEL (2.27), positive attitudes of athletes and coaches toward education (3.20), and staff development within the National Anti-Doping Center (3.47). Main weaknesses comprise limited funding (2.07), insufficient audience coverage (2.60), outdated training methods (3.47), and a lack of locally adapted educational materials (4.47). The most significant external opportunities are education digitalization (1.60), the use of media and social platforms (1.93), gamification and interactivity (3.53), and inclusion of anti-doping modules in formal education (3.80). The principal threats are financial instability (1.47) and the war-related economic context (1.80), along with institutional resistance from some federations (3.27) and low motivation among certain coaches and medical staff (3.47). The identified “core” factors account for over 80% of cumulative influence within each group and form the foundation for SO, ST, WO, and WT strategic approaches. Conclusions. The effective development of anti-doping education in Ukraine depends on combining social capital (ambassadors, positive attitudes of target groups) and high-quality digital content (ADEL) with systematic efforts to overcome financial constraints, expand audience engagement, and modernize training methodologies. Priorities include a national digital platform integrated with ADEL/ADAMS, microlearning and simulation of TUE and doping control procedures, mandatory minimum modules for various segments, cross-institutional coordination (NADC–federations–HEIs–clubs), and transparent performance monitoring. Keywords: clean sport; SWOT analysis; digital educational ecosystem; athletes.