ParalympicsGB boss hails UKAD's ‘hugely important’ education outreach at World Boccia Championships

British Paralympic Association (BPA) Chief Executive, Tim Hollingsworth OBE, believes the education programme provided by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) at the upcoming World Boccia Championships will be ‘hugely important’, as the countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games continues.

UKAD has partnered with the Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed) to educate athletes from 33 different countries at the Championships in Liverpool.

The event gets underway this coming weekend and UKAD will be in attendance on Friday and Saturday, delivering its ‘Win Clean’ education programme to nearly 200 athletes and 250 athlete support personnel, including coaches and physios.

BPA Chief Executive, Tim Hollingsworth OBE, said: “The BISFed 2018 World Boccia Championships is a key event for the sport on the journey to Tokyo 2020. Therefore, it’s fantastic that UKAD are providing ‘Win Clean’ outreach at this competition to so many of the athletes and support staff who are aiming for the Paralympics.

“It is hugely important for not only the British athletes, but those competing against them, to have a thorough understanding of anti-doping rules and responsibilities which can be reiterated as the next Paralympic Games approach.”

UKAD’s ‘Win Clean’ education programme is designed to ensure athletes are aware of the rules, testing procedures, and methods to reduce the risk of inadvertent doping, and inform behaviours by encouraging athletes to be vigilant and make the right decisions at the right time.

UKAD’s Head of Education, Amanda Hudson, said: “While we have worked in partnership with GB Boccia ahead of the previous two Paralympic Games, this is the first time UKAD has partnered with the International Federation, BISFed.

“This new partnership with BISFed fully supports their ambition to reach and educate more elite athletes and their support personnel, including introducing them to wider programmes such as WADA’s Anti-Doping e-Learning (‘ADeL’) programme. This is vital as we start the countdown to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“We are always excited to deliver our ‘Win Clean’ education programme, supporting international colleagues in their ambitions to provide high-quality education to those within their sport, who are competing at the highest levels.”

BISFed’s President, David Hadfield, added: “BISFed is very happy to provide this anti-doping ‘Win Clean’ stand in partnership with UK Anti-Doping, one of the world’s leading anti-doping bodies.

“Our aim is to help educate boccia athletes, coaches and team members about anti-doping procedures and about their responsibilities. We will be demonstrating WADA’s e-learning tool ‘ADeL’, which will be an important factor in ensuring that boccia remains a clean sport."