UK Sport responds to announcement of BOA Anti-Doping Commission

Responding to the announcement of an Anti-Doping Commission by the British Olympic Association, John Steele, Chief Executive of UK Sport, said: “The fight against drugs in sport is central to Britain’s sporting success and we are totally committed to maintaining the UK’s role as a world leader in anti-doping. At the same time there needs to be clarity about who is responsible for what in sport, and make sure that our collective efforts and resources are channelled to areas of greatest need in the build up to both the Beijing and London Games.

“We would never say that the BOA should not consider an issue as fundamental as doping, in particular their own bye-law, and the individual expertise on the Commission is not in doubt. However, as the body responsible for managing anti-doping in the UK, it would have been helpful for us to have the opportunity to help frame their work. Until there is greater clarity on the Commission’s purpose, therefore, it is difficult to see what value it is going to add over the next year and at a time when the UK system is already under close scrutiny.”

In addition to formal review of its activity through the work of Parliamentary Committees, official Auditing Bodies, and an Independent Scrutiny Panel, UK Sport has proactively instigated a number of recent investigations into global best practice in anti-doping. For example, as a key partner of the World Anti-Doping Agency, UK Sport recently hosted a WADA symposium looking at how legislation and greater co-operation between law enforcement agencies and government can benefit the fight against doping in sport. It has also met with officials from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) about the approach they take to anti-doping against that in place in the UK.

Steele added: “We are in no way complacent, and are continually striving to ensure the highest possible standards across all areas of anti-doping – both in terms of our testing and athlete education programmes. We are playing a proactive role in the current revision of the World Anti-Doping Code and through regular liaison other National Anti-Doping Organisations across the world we share best practice and take on board constructive suggestions for the further evolution of our anti-doping programme.

“Against that we must be wary of constant investigation and review, in particular where there is no formal mandate for it. The last thing British sport needs as we build up to Beijing 2008 and London 2012 is distraction, confusion about roles and duplication of effort. We all have significant roles to play – let’s just get on with them.”

R. Langley - 24/07/07