Three Squash Organisations Adopt Anti-Doping Code
The three international organisations of Squash, the World Squash Federation (WSF), the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Women's International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA) have today (14th April 2004) signed an agreement to implement a joint World Squash Anti-Doping Code.
The agreement was signed at a Press Conference at the headquarters of UK Sport in London, hosted jointly by WSF Chief Executive Ted Wallbutton, PSA Chief Executive Gawain Briars, and WISPA Executive Director Andrew Shelley.
The three bodies identified the fact that, to implement the World Anti-Doping Code, formulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and authorised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), there would have to be close cooperation between the organisations.
As professional men and women Squash players are members of PSA or WISPA, those associations have the greatest contact with them and can establish their whereabouts for out-of-competition testing. The WSF has, for many years, implemented Dope Testing at its World Championships and this programme will be extended to bring in the major events of the PSA and WISPA World Tours.
Under the new joint agreement there will be an Anti-Doping Programme Administrator (APA), jointly appointed by the three organisations, who is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the programme. The APA will be supported by a Medical Liaison (ML), who is a qualified medical doctor, who receives all test results and player doping control forms.
There will also be an Anti-Doping Committee (ADC) consisting of three doctors, one of which will be appointed by the WSF, one by PSA and one by WISPA. The ADC will review all test results and decide on Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) requests.
Any sanctions arising from the programme will be imposed on behalf of WSF, PSA and WISPA by an Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will hear cases on a confidential basis on the written request of players. The ADC will consist of a medical, a legal, and a technical member, unanimously appointed by WSF, PSA and WISPA.
Ted Wallbutton commented: 'It is vital for the sport of Squash to be united in the fight against doping. We know from our past testing programmes that Squash has a clean record in the doping arena, but we must be constantly vigilant to ensure that we protect the integrity of the sport and the health and rights of all players.
'The WSF is leading the campaign for Squash to be on the programme of the Olympic Games in 2012 and this formal adoption of the Wada Anti-Doping Code by the three Squash bodies will put us at the forefront of sports being considered by the IOC.'
John Scott, Acting Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport, added: 'UK Sport warmly welcomes today’s announcement from the WSF, PSA and WISPA. The adoption of this anti-doping code is a clear statement of the commitment that exists within squash to the fight for drug-free sport.'
For further information:
Howard Harding
Tel: (44) 1737-243333 or (mobile) (44) 7773-325130 Fax: (44) 1737-222787
Email: HowHard@aol.com
The agreement was signed at a Press Conference at the headquarters of UK Sport in London, hosted jointly by WSF Chief Executive Ted Wallbutton, PSA Chief Executive Gawain Briars, and WISPA Executive Director Andrew Shelley.
The three bodies identified the fact that, to implement the World Anti-Doping Code, formulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and authorised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), there would have to be close cooperation between the organisations.
As professional men and women Squash players are members of PSA or WISPA, those associations have the greatest contact with them and can establish their whereabouts for out-of-competition testing. The WSF has, for many years, implemented Dope Testing at its World Championships and this programme will be extended to bring in the major events of the PSA and WISPA World Tours.
Under the new joint agreement there will be an Anti-Doping Programme Administrator (APA), jointly appointed by the three organisations, who is responsible for the overall operation and administration of the programme. The APA will be supported by a Medical Liaison (ML), who is a qualified medical doctor, who receives all test results and player doping control forms.
There will also be an Anti-Doping Committee (ADC) consisting of three doctors, one of which will be appointed by the WSF, one by PSA and one by WISPA. The ADC will review all test results and decide on Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) requests.
Any sanctions arising from the programme will be imposed on behalf of WSF, PSA and WISPA by an Anti-Doping Tribunal, which will hear cases on a confidential basis on the written request of players. The ADC will consist of a medical, a legal, and a technical member, unanimously appointed by WSF, PSA and WISPA.
Ted Wallbutton commented: 'It is vital for the sport of Squash to be united in the fight against doping. We know from our past testing programmes that Squash has a clean record in the doping arena, but we must be constantly vigilant to ensure that we protect the integrity of the sport and the health and rights of all players.
'The WSF is leading the campaign for Squash to be on the programme of the Olympic Games in 2012 and this formal adoption of the Wada Anti-Doping Code by the three Squash bodies will put us at the forefront of sports being considered by the IOC.'
John Scott, Acting Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport, added: 'UK Sport warmly welcomes today’s announcement from the WSF, PSA and WISPA. The adoption of this anti-doping code is a clear statement of the commitment that exists within squash to the fight for drug-free sport.'
For further information:
Howard Harding
Tel: (44) 1737-243333 or (mobile) (44) 7773-325130 Fax: (44) 1737-222787
Email: HowHard@aol.com