UK Anti-Doping kick starts Clean Games Policy with Youth Commonwealth Games Teams

Following the conclusion of both the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas and the European Youth Summer Olympic Festival in Hungary, a further 231 youth athletes from all four home nations have now received pre-Games anti-doping education in line with the new Clean Games Policy, delivered by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).

The Clean Games Policy, introduced last April, states that anti-doping education is a mandatory requirement for all athletes and athlete support personnel who will be part of any Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth Games team. Signatories to the policy are the key organisations who are responsible for leading and managing teams at a Major Games; The British Olympic Association (BOA), British Paralympic Association (BPA), Commonwealth Games England (CGE), Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS), Commonwealth Games Wales (CGW) and Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC).

Signatories’ have anti-doping responsibilities as defined in the World Anti-Doping Code, including ‘requiring anti-doping education’. The Clean Games Policy  ensures that appropriate levels of education are delivered to those teams, between now and the end of 2020, so they are in the best possible position to train and compete clean. The Clean Games Policy requirements will be met through the implementation of the Major Games Programme, “Clean Sport, Clean Games, Clean Conscience”, led by UKAD.

UKAD’s youth education programmes outside of those competing on the international stage are also important. UKAD’s National Trainers will be at this year’s School Games at Loughborough University between 31 August until 3 September to deliver the100% me athlete education programme to over 1500 of the country’s most talented school age athletes. The values-based education programme is a critical part of UKAD’s work with athletes; teaching them about the ethics of sport, their rights and responsibilities and supporting them to make the right choices throughout their sporting careers.

UKAD Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead, said: “Following the introduction of the Clean Games Policy, I’m delighted that even more youth athletes have now received anti-doping education. The Clean Games Policy sends a strong message from the signatories that there is a firm and unwavering commitment to protecting everyone’s right to clean sport.

“The Clean Games Policy and indeed our annual commitment to those competing at the School Games forms a critical part of our primary prevention strategy. It will help to ensure that all athletes and support staff heading to a major Games over the next three years will receive the appropriate support and education, in order protect them from in the first instance from inadvertent doping.”