Statement on UKAD Board

Trevor Pearce, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Chairman said, “The role of the UKAD Board is to provide strategic direction to the organisation and ensure it operates within its governance arrangements. As a matter of course it does not get involved in day to day operational matters.

“In order for the Board to work effectively, it is necessary that Board members are selected for their expertise in a range of areas that are of interest to UKAD including performance sport.  Such individuals might separately be called upon to support other bodies with their professional expertise.”

“Professor John Brewer’s appointment to the UK Athletics (UKA) Performance Oversight Committee (POC) was declared to the then UKAD Board Chairman and at a subsequent Board meeting in 2015, in line with UKAD Board policy at the time. 

“Professor John Brewer was appointed to the POC as a professor of sport and exercise science, with expertise in performance distance running. The POC’s terms of reference state that his role would be as an advisor on performance data in elite running, not anti-doping. In addition, the terms of reference state that any information which could be of interest regarding possible doping be brought to UKAD’s attention by UKA immediately.

“Individual Board members should constantly review potential conflicts of interest and report these.

“I take the matter of Board members’ responsibilities with the upmost seriousness. There are rigorous processes is in place to manage conflicts of interest on the UKAD Board. This includes a requirement by all Board members to undertake an annual appraisal with me. It is made clear to every Board member that their primary responsibility is to uphold the National Anti-Doping Policy.”