Alexandra Galarneau, Véronique Boudreault

Road cycling has long been shaped by the ongoing issue of doping. Prominent cases, such as the Festina and Armstrong affairs, highlight cultural vulnerabilities within the sport that contribute to this persistent challenge and complicate prevention efforts (Filleul et al., 2024). While the World Antidoping Agency initially focused on detection and sanctioning, recent frameworks place greater emphasis on values-based education as a route toward a clean-sport paradigm (Backhouse et al., 2015; WADA, 2021). However, clean sport remains inconsistently defined. Although athletes largely equate this concept with antidoping compliance, European studies show that athletes also perceive clean sport as acting in alignment with personal values (Hoppen & Šukys, 2023; Petróczi et al., 2021; Petróczi & Boardley, 2022). Given the norms and pressures that characterize road cycling, this study examines how athletes construct the meaning of clean sport within this context. This study aims to (1) explore how Quebec’s elite road cyclists understand and define clean sport, (2) identify the values associated with their conception, and (3) examine the socio-contextual factors that shape these definitions. Adopting an interpretative phenomenological epistemological stance, data are collected through semi-structured interviews with five cyclists identified by their provincial federation (FQSC) as Senior 1 or Junior. Data collection is ongoing, and data are analyzed using Braun & Clarke (2022) approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Findings are expected to clarify how clean sport is defined by athletes in Quebec road cycling and identify leverage points for culturally and contextually aligned education. Results will inform future FQSC education initiatives.