In the Armstrong doping case, which organizational factor contributed to the scandal?

• A. A coordinated team culture that normalized doping.
• B. An isolated athlete acting alone with no organizational support.
• C. Strict enforcement preventing any deviation.
• D. External fans pressuring against doping.

Answer: (A)

Organizational culture and norms within a team shape what members come to see as acceptable. In the Armstrong case, the cycling team created an environment where doping was treated as a standard part of competing, reinforced by leadership, medical staff, and teammates who supported secrecy and shared methods. That kind of coordinated culture produces social pressure to go along with the program, hides misconduct, and weaves doping into the routine of training and racing, making it a systemic problem rather than an isolated act. An isolated athlete acting alone wouldn’t explain the widespread involvement and concealment, while strict enforcement or external opposition would deter or counteract such behavior.