Sarah Teetzel, PhD

Dr. Sarah Teetzel joined the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management as an Assistant Professor in 2009. She has studied the Olympic Games for over 20 years, beginning with her doctoral dissertation on Olympic eligibility rules, completed at the International Centre for Olympic Studies at Western University, which received the Pierre de Coubertin prize from the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee. She is a frequent invited lecturer at the International Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece, and was honoured to serve on the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage’s IOA development working group.

A common thread amongst her research is a focus on applied ethical issues in sport, emphasizing the intersection of rules and values. Her research in sport ethics has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Her recent research focuses on the inclusion of transgender athletes in sport, anti-racism in sport in Winnipeg, and the history and philosophy of the Olympic Winter Games.

Having served as the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education) in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management from 2014 to 2021, she remains keenly interested in academic integrity, curriculum development, and critical thinking pedagogy. She is a member of the Centre for Human Rights Research and the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics. In addition, Sarah is a Fellow of St. John’s College and can also be found at her office located at 237 St. John’s College.

• Philosophy and ethics of sport
• Olympic studies
• Doping and drug testing in sport
• Gender in sport

• PhD (Kinesiology), University of Western Ontario (2009)
• Diploma in Ethics (Philosophy), University of Western Ontario (2005)
• M.A. (Kinesiology), University of Western Ontario (2004)
• B.Sc. (Kinesiology), University of Western Ontario (2002)

• KPER 1500 Foundations of Physical Education and Kinesiology
• KPER 4020 Philosophy of Physical Activity and Leisure
• KPER 4320 Sport and the Body
• KIN 4060 Drugs and Ergogenic Aids in Sport

Scholarly Peer-Reviewed Articles:

Teetzel, S. (2022). Philosophical perspectives on doping sanctions and young athletes. Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, special section: Women in Anti-doping Sciences 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.841033

Teetzel, S., & Dichter H. (2021). Olympic history and legacy: New research in bidding for and hosting the Olympic Winter Games. The International Journal for the History of Sport,38 (13-14), 1299-1311. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2021.2010928

Dichter, H.L., & Teetzel, S. (2020). The Winter Olympics: A century of games on ice and snow. The International Journal for the History of Sport, 37 (13), 1215-1235. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2020.1866474

Teetzel, S. (2020). Allyship in elite women’s sport. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, 14(4), 432-448. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2020.1775691

Teetzel, S., & Weaving, C. (2017). Gender discrimination in sport in the 21^st century: A commentary on trans-athlete exclusion in Canada from a sociohistorical perspective, Sport History Review, 48(2), 185-193.

Hurych, E., Parry, J., & Teetzel, S. (2017). Review of selected philosophy of sport/movement culture texts (2015-2016). International Journal of Physical Education,54(1), 33-45.

Sailors, P. R., Teetzel, S, & Weaving, C. (2017). Cheating, lying, and trying in recreational sports and leisure practices. Annals of Leisure Research, 20(5), 563-577. 

Teetzel, S., & Torres, C. R. (2016). Drug testing, sex verification and the 1967 Pan-American Games. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 33(1-2), 127-146.

 Sailors, P. R., Teetzel, S, & Weaving, C. (2016). Core workout: A feminist critique of definitions, hyperfemininity, and the medicalization of fitness. International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, 9(2), 46-66.

Public Scholarship:

Teetzel, S. (2022, February 18). Would adding a minimum age limit for the Olympic Games protect youth athletes from doping? The Conversation Canada. https://theconversation.com/would-adding-a-minimum-age-limit-for-the-olympic-games-protect-youth-athletes-from-doping-177432

Brown, C., Veisman, N., Chhibber, D., Praznik, J., Palmer, D.J., Mankewich, A., Strachan, L., Teetzel, S., & Wilkinson, L. (2021). Exploring experiences of racism and anti-racism in sport in Winnipeg: Final report. 123 pages. https://antiracisminsport.ca/research/

Teetzel. S. (2019). Why transgender eligibility policies aren’t enough. SIRCuit Newsletter. Sport Information Resource Centre. http://sircuit.ca/transgender-eligibility-policies/

Book Chapters:

Teetzel, S. (2021). Friendship as an Olympic value. In D. Gangas & K. Georgiadis (Eds.), Looking Towards the Future with Hope: 60^th IOA Anniversary (155-164). Athens: International Olympic Academy.

Teetzel, S. (2017). Athletes’ perceptions of transgender eligibility policies applied in high-performance sport in Canada. In E. Anderson & A. Travers (Eds.), Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sport (68-79). London: Routledge.

Teetzel, S. (2017). Drug testing, sex verification and the 1967 Pan-American Games. In B. Kidd and C. Torres (Eds.), Historicizing the Pan American Games (127-146). London: Routledge. (Reprinted from The International Journal of the History of Sport, 33 (1-2), 127-146)

Teetzel, S. (2017). Transgender eligibility policy in sport: Science, ethics, and evidence. In H. L. Reid & E. Moore (Eds.), Reflecting on Modern Sport in Ancient Olympia:Proceedings of the 2016 Conference of the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport (161-170). Parnassos Press.

Teetzel, S. (2016). Olympism: An evolution. In K. Georgiadis (Ed.), Olympic Renewal: The Process of Renewal and Adaption.55^th International Session for Young Participants (107-117). Athens: International Olympic Academy and International Olympic Committee.

Sailors, P., Teetzel, S., & Weaving. C. (2016). Borderline cases: CrossFit, Tough Mudder, and Spartan Race. In S. Klein (Ed.), Defining Sport (113-127). New York: Lexington Books. 

Trans-inclusive sport: Identifying and challenging persistent inequalities. Canadian Sociological Association annual meeting at Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities, Western University, June 1-4. (*cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)

Promoting trans-inclusive physical and health education. Gender and Education Association Conference 2020. Calgary. June 15-19. (*cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)

Learning From transgender athletes' experiences in sport and recreation. North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC, November 1-3, 2018 (with C. Weaving).

Mature minors, informed consent, and the TCPS 2: Researching the sport experiences of trans youth. 6^th International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, Vancouver, BC, June 6-8, 2018.

Fairness, sport, and the inclusion of transgender athletes. Invited keynote address: State University of New York College at Brockport Philosophy of Sport Annual Lecture, Brockport, NY, November 1, 2016.

Sarah supervises graduate students in the Master of Arts (Kinesiology and Recreation) degree and is eligible to supervise PhD students in the Applied Health Science (AHS) doctoral program.

Graduate students she has worked with include:

Alyssa Cox, in progress, thesis title: Sample or Specialize? Exploring Youth Sport Coaches’ Perspectives and Practices.

Mahdi Besharat, MA, thesis title: The Use of Performance-Enhancing Substances Amongst Recreational Gym Users: Investigating Prevalence, Knowledge, Risk Factors, and Attitudes Toward Doping.

Kate Nosworthy, MA, thesis title: Retired Elite Taekwondo Athletes’ Perceptions of the Responsibilities of their National Sports Organization Towards Reporting, Management, Prevention of Mental Health Issues.

Rae Hutton, MA, thesis title: Exploring the Effectiveness and Impact of the MHSAA Policy on Transgender Students: Learning from the Experiences of Trans- Youth in Manitoba High Schools.

Alixandra Krahn, MA, thesis title: Exploring Verbal and Mental Abuse within the Context of Coaching Elite Female Volleyball in Manitoba.

Dongwan He, MA, thesis title: The Impact of Recent Policy Revisions Addressing Doping and Gender Rules on Women Track and Field Student-Athletes in China.

Janice Tilly, MA, thesis title: The Impacts of Healthy School Culture on Early-Years Generalist Teachers.

Elizabeth Hardy, MA, thesis title: The Female Apologetic within Canadian Women’s Rugby.

Olivia Durst, MA, thesis title: Athletes’ Values, Attitudes and Justifications for the Doping Ban.

MA/MSc Thesis Committee Member:

Stephen Howell, in progress, (supervisor: Dr. Kyoung-June Yi), thesis title: Factors Perceived to Influence the Identification and Development of Talented Youth Soccer Players in Canada.

Alison Meany, MA (supervisor: Dr. Robin Derry, University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management), thesis title: Gender Inclusive Registration for Youth Soccer: A Case Study.

Craig Brown, MA, (supervisor: Dr. Leisha Strachan), thesis title: An Exploration of the Lived Acculturation Experiences of Newcomer Varsity Athletes in Manitoba.

Ben Peachment, MA, (supervisor: Dr. Russell Field), thesis title: Friends and Foes: Exploring how community and competition coexist within the CrossFit Games Open.

Brianne Collette, MSc, (supervisor: Dr. Semone Myrie, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences), thesis title: Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Intake and Quality of Life Status of Curling Athlete Populations

Paige C. Grandbois, MA, (supervisor: Dr. Cesar R. Torres, IOA Master’s program, University of the Peloponnese), thesis title: An Analysis of the Moral Acceptability of the Inclusion of Transgender Athletes in the Olympic Games

Donna Harris, MA, (supervisor: Dr. Leisha Strachan), thesis title: Passion and the Expert Coach: Impact on Life and Performance

Jana McKee, MA, (supervisor: Dr. Joannie Halas), thesis title: Community Development and Adult Education: A Symbiotic Relationship

Chris Lagimodiere, MSc, (supervisor: Dr. Leisha Strachan), thesis title: Similarities and Differences between Male Professional versus High Performance Amateur Athletes’ Retirement Experiences

PhD Committee Member:

Delaney Thibodeau, in progress, (supervisor: Dr. Catherine M. Sabiston, University of Toronto, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education)

Brett Cumberbatch, in progress, (supervisor: Dr. jay johnson)

Brent Poplawski, in progress, (supervisor: Dr. Russell Field)

Students interested in pursuing a MA or PhD with Sarah, using philosophical or qualitative research methods, are encouraged to contact her at sarah.teetzel@umanitoba.ca to discuss options.