Which principle is about maximizing benefits and minimizing harms in athlete research?

• A. Respect for persons
• B. Justice
• C. Beneficence
• D. Confidentiality

Answer: (C)

Beneficence is the principle that drives researchers to maximize benefits and minimize harms in athlete research. It means designing studies so the potential health, safety, or performance benefits for athletes are as large as possible while the risks, burdens, and adverse effects are minimized. In practice, this includes careful risk–benefit assessment before studying, using safer procedures, monitoring for adverse effects, providing appropriate medical oversight, and ensuring that any data collection or interventions are justified by clear potential benefits to participants or the sport.

Respect for persons focuses on autonomy and informed consent; justice concerns fair distribution of benefits and burdens; confidentiality protects private information. None of these centers on balancing overall benefits and harms in the way beneficence does, which is why this choice best fits the question.