British Swimming Signs up to Out-of-competition Dope Testing
Swimming -
03 Oct 2002
British Swimming is the latest governing body to show its commitment to drug-free sport by signing up to UK Sport’s out-of-competition testing of individuals programme. Details of elite athletes with a disability will be included on the testing register.
British Swimming joins four other sports which are already have in place a register of athletes for out-of-competition testing: athletics (UK Athletics); rugby union (Scottish Rugby Union); and weightlifting and powerlifting (both British Weightlifting Association). This involves providing UK Sport with contact information and training details of athletes who can then be tested out-of-competition at short or no notice.
Richard Callicott, Chief Executive of UK Sport – the body responsible for running the UK’s anti-doping programme – welcomed British Swimming’s move. He said: 'A key part of our work at UK Sport is to support and promote drug-free sport. We want the UK to be producing winners on the world sporting stage, but we want them to do it fairly.
'British Swimming has long been part of the UK’s anti-doping programme. By signing up to out-of-competition testing, the organisation is emphasising its commitment to drug-free sport in the strongest possible way.'
Out-of-competition testing is an important part of the UK’s anti-doping policy as it increases the opportunity for testing, thereby increasing the deterrent effect of the programme. Such testing accounted for 39.4% of the 6,009 tests carried out by UK Sport in 2001/02. The majority of these were taken at squad training sessions. In addition, 11 UK governing bodies paid for extra targeted tests as part of the out-of-competition testing of individuals programme.
British Swimming’s decision to include elite athletes with a disability on the programme is a first for sport in the UK. Michele Verroken, Director of Drug-free Sport at UK Sport, said: 'The inclusion of elite athletes with a disability on the programme is a clear recognition by British Swimming of the increased profile and status of Paralympic sports. This is something we hope other sports will look at and make a similar commitment as Paralympic sports become ever more competitive. We also want to ensure that all high performance sportsmen and women are treated equally, and are able to compete in a fair sporting environment.'
For more details contact:
Russell Langley
Communications
UK Sport
Tel: 020 7211 5108
Fax: 020 7211 5246
Mob: 0776 294 4710
Web: www.uksport.gov.uk
British Swimming joins four other sports which are already have in place a register of athletes for out-of-competition testing: athletics (UK Athletics); rugby union (Scottish Rugby Union); and weightlifting and powerlifting (both British Weightlifting Association). This involves providing UK Sport with contact information and training details of athletes who can then be tested out-of-competition at short or no notice.
Richard Callicott, Chief Executive of UK Sport – the body responsible for running the UK’s anti-doping programme – welcomed British Swimming’s move. He said: 'A key part of our work at UK Sport is to support and promote drug-free sport. We want the UK to be producing winners on the world sporting stage, but we want them to do it fairly.
'British Swimming has long been part of the UK’s anti-doping programme. By signing up to out-of-competition testing, the organisation is emphasising its commitment to drug-free sport in the strongest possible way.'
Out-of-competition testing is an important part of the UK’s anti-doping policy as it increases the opportunity for testing, thereby increasing the deterrent effect of the programme. Such testing accounted for 39.4% of the 6,009 tests carried out by UK Sport in 2001/02. The majority of these were taken at squad training sessions. In addition, 11 UK governing bodies paid for extra targeted tests as part of the out-of-competition testing of individuals programme.
British Swimming’s decision to include elite athletes with a disability on the programme is a first for sport in the UK. Michele Verroken, Director of Drug-free Sport at UK Sport, said: 'The inclusion of elite athletes with a disability on the programme is a clear recognition by British Swimming of the increased profile and status of Paralympic sports. This is something we hope other sports will look at and make a similar commitment as Paralympic sports become ever more competitive. We also want to ensure that all high performance sportsmen and women are treated equally, and are able to compete in a fair sporting environment.'
For more details contact:
Russell Langley
Communications
UK Sport
Tel: 020 7211 5108
Fax: 020 7211 5246
Mob: 0776 294 4710
Web: www.uksport.gov.uk