UK Anti-Doping to focus on the next generation for Clean Sport Week 2025

With a focus on keeping young athletes safe and engaged in fair play, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) today announced its ‘next generation’ theme for its annual Clean Sport Week, taking place from 19-23 May 2025.

This year’s activities will focus on protecting and empowering young athletes. It will involve a survey on attitudes towards doping in sport, in-person events, case studies, the delivery of educational resources and more.

Clean Sport Week has always been a collaborative effort built across the sporting landscape. Athletes, support personnel, National Governing Bodies, Sport Councils and other organisations, use our annual campaign as an opportunity to advocate for and raise awareness of clean sport and fair play.

In a first for Clean Sport Week and in a move to deepen links with other organisations supporting young people in sport, UKAD will also be working with Pearson, a leader in lifelong learning and education, and SportsAid. SportsAid is the nationwide charity that manages the emerging athlete support programmes TASS (the Talented Athlete Support Scheme), Backing the Best, DiSE (the Diploma in Sporting Excellence) and the SportsAid Awards.

The combined efforts of this wide set of supporters will enable us all to champion the vital role anti-doping plays across the four nations and globally.

Jane Rumble, UKAD’s Chief Executive, said:

“It is critical that we give young people a solid foundation and understanding of fair play and clean sport values early on to help them make smart and informed decisions. They are the next generation of sporting stars and we want to ensure they become proud clean athletes. 

“We are delighted to be joining forces with SportsAid and Pearson and greatly appreciate their determination and support in helping educate, protect and empower our athletes of the future.”

SportsAid is a UK charity dedicated to helping aspiring athletes reach their full potential. Founded in 1976, the charity provides financial assistance, mentoring, and personal development opportunities to talented athletes, often at the start of their journey to high performance sport. TASS, Backing the Best, DiSE, and the SportsAid Awards are all support programmes that form part of the SportsAid family.

Tim Lawler MBE, CEO from SportsAid, added: 

“SportsAid is committed to helping the next generation of athletes to understand the importance of clean sport and to empower them to make the best choices. SportsAid, along with our colleagues from the TASS programme, will be working in collaboration with UKAD to help increase awareness and encourage athletes to be advocates through Clean Sport Week in May and beyond.”

Pearson focuses on a wide range of vocational qualifications that aim to equip learners with the knowledge and skills they need to build a rewarding career. The organisation has over 15 vocational sports qualifications that offer progression pathways from Key Stage 4, all the way through to undergraduate qualifications. 

Deidre Williams, Director of Vocational Qualifications Portfolio Management at Pearson, commented: 

“In celebration of Clean Sport Week, Pearson is proud to support UKAD in promoting the values of clean sport which are embedded in our BTEC Sport and Sport and Exercise Science qualifications. 

“This collaboration strengthens our qualifications and helps shape the next generation of sports professionals and coaches, empowering them to advocate for clean sport. Additionally, our learners gain valuable insights into how clean sport supports their own health and wellbeing, as well as reinforcing the critical importance of integrity, fairness, and ethical practices in sport.” 

To keep up to date on all the exciting Clean Sport Week plans and latest news, visit UKAD’s website and follow @ukantidoping on social media.

Notes 

The 2025 Clean Sport Week theme will see UKAD focus on 7-19 year olds (school to college age groups), highlighting the importance of embedding clean sport values at the start of a young persons sporting journey. In 2026, Clean Sport Week will go on to have a university age group focus. More details will follow on this.

The TASS programme has been supporting athletes at the top of the Talent Pathway since 2004. Funded by Sport England and part of the SportsAid family, TASS deliver sports science support through a network of sites across the UK, within 40 sports. 

TASS currently support over 1,200 athletes and work with 340 practitioners.