UK Sport has welcomed today’s publication of Tanni Grey-Thompson’s anti-doping review. The review, commissioned by UK Athletics Chief Executive Neils de Vos, has made 22 recommendations covering all aspects of anti-doping policies and education within the sport.
"We welcome this report which is indicative of a National Governing Body which takes its anti-doping responsibilities seriously and is looking to take a lead,” said Andy Parkinson, Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport. “We believe the internal changes recommended, along with the required cultural shift amongst athletes highlighted in the report, will put athletics in the UK in a good position through to 2012 and beyond."
Over 400 stakeholders contributed to the review to supplement the input from an expert panel featuring Grey-Thompson along with Ed Moses, Colin Jackson, Mike Lee and John Scott.
A number of the recommendations are focused around the education process and the need to begin delivery at an earlier age. UK Athletics have also committed additional resources to enhancing this area and widening the reach of its anti-doping team.
“We have a collective responsibility as athletes, administrators, coaches and parents to ensure a greater cultural understanding of what it takes to be involved in doping and to use this in a positive way, in order to better educate a younger generation,” said Grey-Thompson.
De Vos added: ““I and the UKA Board would like to place on record our thanks to Tanni and the panel for giving their valuable time to this review. We will adopt all 22 of the recommendations which fulfill my original objectives of tightening up our rules and procedures to ensure absolute clarity amongst all athletes as to the consequences of taking performance enhancing drugs.
“The recommendations made by this review mean that any athlete stupid enough to do so will not only destroy their career as an athlete, but also any future career in the sport as an administrator or coach – the deterrent just got much stronger.”
