£1.2M boost to anti-doping budget
SubscribePress Release 25 May 2004
UK Sport, the body responsible for promoting ethically fair and drug-free sport, today announced a significant increase in the funds allocated to anti-doping.
From the start of this financial year (April 2004) UK Sport is increasing the budget for the drug-free sport programme by £1.2 million to £2.8 million per annum.
One area of work to particularly benefit from the extra funding is that of education, which sees a threefold increase in budget.
"The UK is already considered to have one of the most comprehensive and effective education and drug information programmes in the world," said John Scott, Acting Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport.
"Nevertheless, feedback from athletes and sports has confirmed our view that greater emphasis should be placed on education and work is ongoing to further strengthen our position."
Among the initiatives planned over the next 12 months are:
- The development and launch of an e-learning programme for world-class athletes, explaining their responsibilities and the rules and procedures for anti-doping; - The introduction of an induction programme to ensure that every competitor subject to testing has been taken through an initial education session; - The launch of a national outreach programme at major events in the UK which will raise awareness and understanding of key anti-doping issues.
Scott added: "We need to do all we can to help ensure that athletes and their support staff are fully aware of their responsibilities in anti-doping. The extra funds will allow us to deliver a far more structured and formalised programme across the UK, working with a range of partners, including sports organisations and educational institutions.
"This will focus not only on what substances are permitted and prohibited, but also the importance of carefully checking before they take anything to help avoid the risk of inadvertent doping."
The announcement came on the day that UK Sport published the results from the final quarter of the 2003/04 testing programme. Covering the period from January to March 2004, the figures show that 1,735 samples have been collected and analysed. A total of 830 (47.8%) were out-of-competition tests, including testing of individuals and at squad training sessions.
During the whole year (April 2003-March 2004), 5,876 tests have been conducted by UK Sport across 48 sports. Governing bodies receiving most tests during the year have been the Football Association – 1,324, UK Athletics – 526 and the British Weight Lifting Association – 448.
Details of all tests conducted, as well as action taken by governing bodies on positive findings, can be found on UK Sport’s Drug Results Database – www.uksport.gov.uk/drugs.
The number of tests carried out each year will increase as a result of the additional funding for drug-free sport. Traditionally around 6,000 tests have been conducted but, as John Scott explained, not only more tests but also better targeted tests will be conducted to enhance the programme.
"The number of tests we carry out will increase, but this alone is not enough. We need to ensure that the tests are targeted towards the right people at the right time, thereby maximising the deterrence factor and making competitors think twice about the misuse of prohibited substances," said Scott.
"By working closely with sports and our counterparts at anti-doping organisations, the testing programme is constantly evolving to ensure we get this right.
"These improvements, combined with a more comprehensive and wide-ranging education programme, will allow the UK to continue to build on its reputation as one of the leading nations in the fight for drug-free sport."
