Professor Rowena Naidoo is a sports science innovator, advancing ethical, inclusive, and evidence-based sport.
Her work centres on athlete health, anti-doping education, and inclusive physical activity, particularly for marginalised groups such as children with disabilities.
A long-standing collaborator with the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), Naidoo has served as a Doping Control Officer, Education Officer, and currently leads anti-doping education in KwaZulu-Natal.
She is also the principal investigator of multiple World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-funded projects, including the development of the C.R.E.S.T. behaviour change model and a newly awarded international project for World ParaVolley.
Naidoo says: “We urgently need more sports psychologists and more women coaches. Especially since women+ athletes often face body image pressure, disordered eating, and harassment. Gender-biased training environments remain, and these contribute to preventable injuries and underperformance.”
