Regulating Bodies

Within Regulating Bodies-and in characteristically eloquent, insightful, and empirically-grounded fashion-Jamie Schultz complicates the various policy initiatives through which elite sport has purportedly sought to protect athletes' bodies. Regulating Bodies represents a vital, prescient, and rich contribution to the burgeoning literature focused on the socio-material dimensions of contemporary sport: it is a necessary acquisition for anyone with an interest in making sense of the socio-scientific dimensions, and compounded human outcomes, of the contemporary sporting leviathan. * David L. Andrews *
Rupturing the silos that too often mark scholarly discussions of sport, Jaime Schultz has brought her sharp, critical eye to the actions of sports governing bodies' elaborations of sports' eligibility rules. By exploring those decisions determining who may play, she shifts attention from the ways sport disciplines bodies to the dehumanising processes that reduce athletes to their bodies and impose rules that determine not what those bodies may do, but which bodies may participate and on what terms. Schultz's analysis produces a call to action to shift the ways sport governance and analysts approach regulation and eligibility rules that those of us with an interest in making sport better, fairer, and more just would do well to act on. * Malcolm MacLean (he/him/his), University of Gibraltar *
Quite simply, Regulating Bodies is a remarkable book. Beautifully written and expertly researched, it exposes the complexities of some of the most pressing and controversial issues in contemporary sport. Regulating Bodies is a must read for anyone interested in the past, present, and future of elite sport. A warning though, once started, it is very hard to put down! * Professor Holly Thorpe, University of Waikato *
Combining meticulous research, unflinching critical acumen, and extraordinary empathy, Jaime Schultz's Regulating Bodies explores how the protective policies and regulations ostensibly meant to safeguard sport often perpetuate discrimination, danger, and abuse. Its observations are at once lacerating and hopeful. Anyone who cares about sport-from scholars to athletes to policymakers—should read and learn from this important and timely book. * Travis Vogan, University of Iowa *