This blog provides a summary of a recent paper published in BJSM. Click here for the full paper.

Why is this study important?

If you rarely see Black researchers in prominent positions in Sports Science and Sports Medicine, this study helps explain part of the reason why. Recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, our study examines the under-representation of Black authors in high-impact journals within these fields.

This under-representation is not just a matter of statistics—it reflects a deeper systemic issue. Science thrives on diverse perspectives, and when an entire group is systematically excluded, we compromise the breadth and quality of our collective knowledge. Limited representation impacts access, opportunities, and ultimately, the research itself. How can we expect racial issues to be adequately addressed if those who experience them firsthand are absent from the academic conversation?

How did the study go about this?

To assess the extent of Black underrepresentation in Sports Science and Sports Medicine, we analyzed the authorship of articles published between 2018 and 2022 in the four highest-impact journals in the field:

• British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Journal of Sport and Health Science
• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Immunology Review

We examined 11,158 authorships to determine how many of these researchers were Black. To establish racial identity, we used publicly available images from academic platforms such as Google Scholar and ResearchGate, as well as institutional websites and social media profiles. We used recognized heteroidentification methods commonly used in Brazil, which rely on phenotypic traits including skin color, facial structure, nose width, lip thickness, eyebrow density, eye shape, and hair texture.

What did the study find?

The underrepresentation of Black researchers in Sports Science and Sports Medicine is alarming.

Among the authors:

• Of the 11,158 authors analyzed across the four journals, only 1.30% were Black.
• The gender breakdown worsens the scenario: only 0.34% were Black women.
• In leadership positions (first and last author), a mere 0.92% of first authors and 1.09% of last authors were Black, indicating that their presence in leadership roles is also minimal.

Among the journals:

• Only 0.75% of articles had two or more Black researchers. Even over the analyzed periods (2018–2020 and 2021–2022), the increase in Black authorship remained minimal.

Additionally, the study highlights that this under-representation is driven by structural factors, including:

• Systemic racism in academia, which restricts Black researchers’ access to opportunities and collaboration networks.
• Inequality in research funding, with less access to grants and resources for conducting studies.
• Barriers to academic progression, stemming from a lack of role models and institutional barriers.
• Language barriers, as English is the dominant language in scientific publishing, and fluency is not equally accessible to all researchers.

What are the key take-home points?

Sports Science and Sports Medicine still have a long way to go to become more inclusive. Here are some key considerations:

• Black representation in science remains critically low.
  • Only 1.30% of authors were Black, with Black women representing an even smaller fraction (0.34%).
  • Without role models, future generations may feel discouraged from pursuing academia.
• The issue is structural and multifactorial.
  • Systemic racism, funding challenges, language barriers, and exclusion from academic networks collectively hinders the representation of Black scientists.
  • Moreover, the lack of diversity in selection committees perpetuates this cycle of exclusion.
• Concrete changes are necessary to transform this reality.
  • Affirmative policies, mentorship initiatives, and financial support are some proposed solutions.
  • International journals must take active steps to promote diversity.