News

Feature: Anti-Doping Categorisation Explained

Lee Taylor - 27/11/2008

The new Code comes into effect from 1 January
Photo/Getty Images

UK Sport is producing a series of articles looking at the changes that the revised World Anti-Doping Code will bring when it comes into effect on 1 January 2009. This week we look at the Categorisation process.

UK Sport, as the National Anti-Doping Organisation, is responsible for the delivery of an effective anti-doping programme across sport in the UK, and one of the key aspects of fulfilling this role is regular evaluation of those sports who are part of that programme. As a result, UK Sport has recently undertaken an annual review of sports and who will be tested. Those who are not identified will still be able to access UK Sport’s educational resources. This is what UK Sport refers to as its categorisation of sports process.

Sports are categorised based on a number of different criteria, with an emphasis placed on the risk of doping and potential for misuse of prohibited substances and methods within the sport. The subsequent results of the categorisation process enable UK Sport to determine, for those who receive testing, the levels of both In-Competition and Out-of-Competition testing within each sport based on the above, therefore ensuring effective and intelligent anti-doping programmes.

The categorisation process also assists UK Sport in identifying which sport, and which athletes within these sports, form part of the UK’s National Registered Testing Pool (NRTP) and are therefore subject to the provision of athlete whereabouts information.

Regular evaluation of the categorisation of sports is therefore essential. With the significant changes happening as a result of the revised Code, UK Sport recently engaged sports on the matter. As a result, a number of National Governing Bodies (NGBs), a representative from the Home Country Sports Councils and a representative from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority were invited to a focus group in September, which sought their input on the issue of categorisation and the determination of sports warranting a NRTP.

UK Sport’s Acting Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport, Andy Parkinson, said: “The focus group was a very useful exercise for UK Sport as it is important that we seek the input of stakeholders so as to ensure that we are confident in the categorisation process and its results. We need to target our resources at the right sports - and in some cases the right individuals – to ensure that our programme is as effective as possible.”

“It is worth stressing that this list of sports isn’t set in stone,” said Parkinson. “It is constantly monitored and formally reviewed on an annual basis, which means sports may fall off or come on to the list as appropriate. For example, Olympic sports not currently on the list may be added to it as we get nearer Games time. Also noteworthy is the fact that International Federations will be established their own testing pools to pick up international level athletes, which may well include British competitors and may include sports not listed above.”