UKAD news release: New Clean Games Policy Launched

A new “Clean Games Policy”, facilitated by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has resulted in anti-doping education now becoming a mandatory requirement for all athletes and athlete support personnel who will be part of any Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth Games team.

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) have all showed their firm commitment to protecting clean sport by formally signing the Clean Games Policy.

As signatories to the Policy, those responsible for selecting and managing teams for major multi-sport Games will ensure that the appropriate measures are in place so that anyone on those teams, between now and the end of 2020, are in the best possible position to compete and win 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 Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead, said: “This is the first time that such a policy has been put in place in the UK. It sends a strong message from our leading sports organisations that there is a firm and unwavering commitment to protecting everyone’s right to clean sport.

“The Clean Games Policy forms a critical part of our 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 inadvertent doping.”

Chair of the BOA’s Athlete Committee, Ben Hawes, said: “Never before has the anti-doping agenda been more important for athletes and followers of sport. By signing up to the clean games policy the BOA has set out its clear intent for Team GB – that every athlete going to the Games is fully educated and informed as to the importance of clean sport and the part they can play in ensuring the integrity of their discipline.”

British Paralympic Association Chief Executive, Tim Hollingsworth, said: “By signing up to the Clean Games Policy, we the BPA, are ensuring that alongside our counterparts we fulfil our duty to ensure that every British athlete competing at international level for ParalympicsGB is educated and informed about clean sport. This demonstrates that both in the UK and globally we take doping extremely seriously as a nation.”

Commonwealth Games England Chief Executive, Paul Blanchard, said: “I’m extremely proud that by signing up to the Clean Games Policy, every Team England athlete who competes at the Youth Commonwealth Games in July and on the Gold Coast next year will have shown a real commitment towards clean sport. Sports in the UK working together can only strengthen the fight against doping both at home and in the Games we compete in around the world.”

Commonwealth Games Council Northern Ireland, Executive Officer Conal Heatley said: “Too often we hear negative comments about sport and sportspeople. But this is a fantastic news story about athletes, coaches, sports governing bodies and others within the sector joining forces to promote clean sport. We at the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council are delighted to play our part and we will continue to engage with all of TeamNI as we look forward to Bahamas 2017 and Gold Coast 2018.”

Commonwealth Games Scotland Chief Executive Jon Doig OBE, said: “We are delighted to sign up to the Clean Games Policy and believe that this joint initiative sends out an important message across the world about our commitment to clean sport.

“As part of this, all Team Scotland athletes and staff for Bahamas 2017 and Gold Coast 2018 will have undertaken anti-doping education as a condition of selection, in a clear demonstration that they are committed to participating in a clean Games.”

Commonwealth Games Wales CEO Chris Jenkins said: “I am delighted that the British Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games Associations have worked together with UKAD on the new Clean Games Policy.

“Every athlete who competes for Team Wales will be educated in the very important area of anti-doping. In addition, this new policy will include all athlete support personnel. The policy is a major step forward in our fight against doping and our efforts to raise the levels of integrity in sport.”

UKAD’s Major Games Programme was initially developed ahead of London 2012 to support athletes and support staff attending the London 2012 Games. The Programme has since been implemented in the build-up to the Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2014, Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014, and more recently the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games where every athlete who represented Great Britain was educated prior to the Games.