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Record year for anti-doping programme

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UK Sport Press Release 08 May 2003

Figures released today by UK Sport show that the number of drugs tests undertaken in the UK hit records levels in the past year. A total of 7,240 tests have taken place in the year ending 31 March 2003, compared with 6,009 tests in 2001/02 – an increase of 20.5%. This marks the first year ever that the testing programme in the UK has hit the 7,000 test mark.

Despite this large increase, the number of tests being reported to governing bodies for further investigation fell from 101 in 2001/02 to 100 this year. That amounts to 1.38% of all tests – well below the worldwide average figure for adverse findings of 2%. Among the 101 adverse findings:

• 49 were for stimulants, of which the vast majority were for substances confirmed as permitted medications;
• 26 were for anabolic agents;
• 16 were for refusal to take a test.

A total of 41 sports have been covered by the UK’s anti-doping programme in 2002/03. Governing bodies receiving the most testing include: Football Association – 1,256; UK Athletics – 509; and the Rugby Football Union – 275. The figures for the year reflect the importance of the deterrence aspect of the anti-doping programme. Of the 7,240 tests undertaken, 35.4% have been conducted out-of-competition either at squad training sessions or as part of the 'anywhere, anytime’ testing programme which has involved 11 sports.

The statistics are published in UK Sport’s latest quarterly report of testing results, which covers the period from January to March 2003. During this quarter 1,761 tests were taken, 41.1% of which were out-of-competition tests. This total includes the 92 tests at the World Indoor Championships in Athletics in Birmingham.

Commenting on the figures, Michele Verroken, Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport, said: "The fact that the number of adverse findings among sportsmen and women has remained almost the same as last year despite more than 1,000 additional tests being carried out is encouraging. We know that the vast majority of athletes are committed to competing drug-free and this is borne out in the figures.

Richard Callicott, Chief Executive of UK Sport, added: "It has been an incredible year for the drug-free sport team at UK Sport. The phenomenal number of tests carried out as part of the UK’s anti-doping programme is a real achievement, but there’s been so much more besides. The successful running of the testing at the 2002 Commonwealth Games was certainly a highlight and showed how capable we are at testing at major sporting events.

Callicott continued: "We’ve successfully introduced the quarterly reporting of results which has had the dual positive impact of highlighting to work being done to combat the misuse of drugs in sport more regularly, as well as encouraging governing bodies to act more swiftly when adverse findings occur. We’ve also published an updated report on nandrolone which repeated calls to athletes to be extremely cautious about the use of supplements which could potentially lead to them providing positive samples."

Looking forward to the year ahead, Callicott concluded: "The next 12 months will see major steps being made in the fight for drug-free sport as the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code draws nearer. We have already started to work on the UK’s own anti-doping policy to ensure compliance and we will continue to work with the athletes, governing bodies and other partner organisations to ensure a smooth transition to the Code."

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