Drug-Free Sport Quarterly Update
In May 2005, UK Sport published its Manifesto for Drug-Free Sport which set out a series of pledges across five core areas of anti-doping. Quarterly progress reports will be published in these areas; below is the update for April-June 2005.
Testing
• UK Sport remains committed to the target of 7,000 tests in 2005/06, with a planned increase to 7,500 in 2006/07. A total of 1,265 tests were carried out during the first quarter.
• At the end of quarter one, the number of out-of-competition tests is below the 50% target set out in the Manifesto. However, a new whereabouts system for tracking the movements of sportsmen and women has been developed and is in the early stages of being rolled out across sport. As more sports are signed up, it is expected that the percentage of out-of-competitions tests will increase.
Education
• 100% Me – UK Sport’s new athlete-centred anti-doping education campaign – was successfully launched in May.
• This week sees that first round of accredited tutors receive their training. This intake includes representatives from British Swimming, UK Athletics and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Others tutors to be trained include representatives from the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, Performance Lifestyle advisers and current Doping Control Officers.
• All UK Sport Drug-Free Sport Directorate Staff will also be amongst those trained and accredited to deliver anti-doping education to athletes and support personnel across the UK.
• Three 100% Me ambassadors are amongst the first intake – Bryan Steele (cycling), Karen Roberts (judo) and Kathy Butler (athletics). Other ambassadors to have nominated themselves for future sessions include Stephen Parry (swimming) and Steph Cook (modern pentathlon).
• Over 750 sportspeople – including current and future competitors, coaches and governing body officials - have pledged their commitment to 100% Me via the websit (http://www.100percentme.co.uk/).
• The first of a series of 100% Me Laboratory Open Days has been set for 7 September at the WADA-accredited laboratory at HFL. Entitled ‘What Happens to your Sample’ enables athletes and support staff to see what happens behind the scenes at the laboratory, the aim being to help increase the confidence athletes
have in the systems in place to protect their right to compete on a level playing field.
Policy
• The new UK National Anti-Doping Policy and accompanying Model Rules were launched in May, since when a number of national governing bodies have submitted regulations which are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.
• UK Sport is working with all sports to agree a suitable timetable for compliance by
early 2006.
• Imminent roll-out of an National Governing Body Anti-Doping Agreement that formalises the relationships with regards to anti-doping between, UK Sport, the home country sports councils and the national governing bodies. This will also be the mechanism through which governing bodies sign up to the Policy and agree to comply with the Code.
• Looking ahead, Sports Minister, Richard Caborn, will chair a meeting of EU Sports Ministers on 19-20 September in Liverpool. At this meeting anti-doping will be discussed with the major focus of attention going to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport. The Convention will be presented to governments for adoption at the UNESCO General Conference taking place from 3-21 October. The Convention aims to impose a legal obligation on governments in respect to the global drug-free sport campaign.
Standards
• To ensure the highest standards among its Doping Control Officers, UK Sport has launched a new online learning system called COMmunicate. This allows DCOs and Chaperones to complete online learning modules and take part in relevant discussion groups on topics affecting the testing process. Recent modules undertaken include testing young athletes.
• A summer programme of field mentoring by the DCO auditors has also been completed covering key topics such as the new out-of-competition testing procedures.
• David Kenworthy has been appointed Chair of the Independent Scrutiny Panel which will oversee the work of UK Sport’s anti-doping function to ensure no conflicts of interest exist and overall effectiveness of the function is maximised. Kenworthy, former Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, will be joined by
four other Members and athlete adviser Stephen Parry when the Panel meets for the first time in September.
Research & Development
• UK Sport met recently with Chelsea FC club doctor Bryan English to discuss the centrifuging technique (commonly referred to as ‘blood spinning’) being offered to Chelsea FC players. Concerns about the technique that had been raised by WADA, which ultimately has responsibility for what substances and methods are prohibited in sport, were addressed. Our conclusions on the dialogue that took place have been shared with WADA.
Testing
• UK Sport remains committed to the target of 7,000 tests in 2005/06, with a planned increase to 7,500 in 2006/07. A total of 1,265 tests were carried out during the first quarter.
• At the end of quarter one, the number of out-of-competition tests is below the 50% target set out in the Manifesto. However, a new whereabouts system for tracking the movements of sportsmen and women has been developed and is in the early stages of being rolled out across sport. As more sports are signed up, it is expected that the percentage of out-of-competitions tests will increase.
Education
• 100% Me – UK Sport’s new athlete-centred anti-doping education campaign – was successfully launched in May.
• This week sees that first round of accredited tutors receive their training. This intake includes representatives from British Swimming, UK Athletics and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Others tutors to be trained include representatives from the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, Performance Lifestyle advisers and current Doping Control Officers.
• All UK Sport Drug-Free Sport Directorate Staff will also be amongst those trained and accredited to deliver anti-doping education to athletes and support personnel across the UK.
• Three 100% Me ambassadors are amongst the first intake – Bryan Steele (cycling), Karen Roberts (judo) and Kathy Butler (athletics). Other ambassadors to have nominated themselves for future sessions include Stephen Parry (swimming) and Steph Cook (modern pentathlon).
• Over 750 sportspeople – including current and future competitors, coaches and governing body officials - have pledged their commitment to 100% Me via the websit (http://www.100percentme.co.uk/).
• The first of a series of 100% Me Laboratory Open Days has been set for 7 September at the WADA-accredited laboratory at HFL. Entitled ‘What Happens to your Sample’ enables athletes and support staff to see what happens behind the scenes at the laboratory, the aim being to help increase the confidence athletes
have in the systems in place to protect their right to compete on a level playing field.
Policy
• The new UK National Anti-Doping Policy and accompanying Model Rules were launched in May, since when a number of national governing bodies have submitted regulations which are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.
• UK Sport is working with all sports to agree a suitable timetable for compliance by
early 2006.
• Imminent roll-out of an National Governing Body Anti-Doping Agreement that formalises the relationships with regards to anti-doping between, UK Sport, the home country sports councils and the national governing bodies. This will also be the mechanism through which governing bodies sign up to the Policy and agree to comply with the Code.
• Looking ahead, Sports Minister, Richard Caborn, will chair a meeting of EU Sports Ministers on 19-20 September in Liverpool. At this meeting anti-doping will be discussed with the major focus of attention going to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport. The Convention will be presented to governments for adoption at the UNESCO General Conference taking place from 3-21 October. The Convention aims to impose a legal obligation on governments in respect to the global drug-free sport campaign.
Standards
• To ensure the highest standards among its Doping Control Officers, UK Sport has launched a new online learning system called COMmunicate. This allows DCOs and Chaperones to complete online learning modules and take part in relevant discussion groups on topics affecting the testing process. Recent modules undertaken include testing young athletes.
• A summer programme of field mentoring by the DCO auditors has also been completed covering key topics such as the new out-of-competition testing procedures.
• David Kenworthy has been appointed Chair of the Independent Scrutiny Panel which will oversee the work of UK Sport’s anti-doping function to ensure no conflicts of interest exist and overall effectiveness of the function is maximised. Kenworthy, former Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, will be joined by
four other Members and athlete adviser Stephen Parry when the Panel meets for the first time in September.
Research & Development
• UK Sport met recently with Chelsea FC club doctor Bryan English to discuss the centrifuging technique (commonly referred to as ‘blood spinning’) being offered to Chelsea FC players. Concerns about the technique that had been raised by WADA, which ultimately has responsibility for what substances and methods are prohibited in sport, were addressed. Our conclusions on the dialogue that took place have been shared with WADA.