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Latest test results include Athens competitors

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Russell Langley 25 July 2004

UK Sport today published the latest results from the UK’s anti-doping programme. These include tests on British competitors heading to Athens as part the most comprehensive pre-Games testing programme ever for a British team.

John Scott, UK Sport’s Acting Director of Drug-Free Sport, said: "By having such a comprehensive pre-Games testing programme in place we aim to ensure that only drug-free athletes will represent Great Britain at the forthcoming Olympics. We want British athletes at the Games to be making the headlines for all the right reasons, and we want to protect the reputation of winning athletes by ensuring public confidence in their performance."

Testing is only one element of the pre-Games programme, with a strong emphasis also being placed on education of not only athletes but their coaches, physios, doctors and other support staff. Scott added: "With the education and resources being made available to competitors, including education sessions, advice cards and the Drug Information Database, we seek to ensure that everyone involved has all the information they need to compete drug-free. The focus is on how athletes can find and interpret drug information, as well as stressing the importance of checking all medication before taking anything."

In addition, UK Sport is providing every team member with a basic medical pack. This contains anti-doping information and advice cards, as well as supplies of common medications such as paracetamol, nasal spray, throat lozenges and anti-diarrhoeal capsules. These have all been checked to ensure they contain no prohibited substances. Scott said: "The aim of the packs is to ensure that British competitors are not tempted to pop out to a local chemist and buy off-the-shelf products. We have seen in the past that this can cause problems as medications do not necessarily contain the same ingredients in different countries."

The packs, which have been developed in partnership with Dr Richard Budgett, the British Olympic Association’s Director of Medical Services, have been shipped overseas this week for distribution by team doctors at Team GB’s pre-Games holding camps. Dr Budgett, who is Team GB's Chief Medical Officer at the Games, said: "By providing the most up-to-date education and information on anti-doping, backed up by the medical packs, we want to minimise the risk of inadvertent doping by members of the team."

The results report published by UK Sport covers the period from 1 April-30 June, the first quarter of the 2004/05 testing year. It shows that 1,341 tests have been conducted across 35 sports during the period under review. Governing bodies receiving most tests are British Swimming (149), UK Athletics (133) and the Football Association (80).

 

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