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FISU at the 10th WADA Symposium

FISU 28 March 2014

Roundtable “Developments in Anti-Doping Intelligence & Investigations (I&I)”


LAUSANNE – The 10th edition of the WADA symposium was held on 25 and 26 March and attracted some 350 participants worldwide. This annual event constituted a unique platform for ISF, NADO, RADO, Major Games Organiser and other anti-doping related organisation representatives, to share information and expertise, exchange experiences and perspectives, and find ways to collaborate more effectively towards the same goal: the fight against doping.  The event also offered a great opportunity for FISU members, Dr. Thomas Crisp, Medical Committee Member and Anti-Doping Coordinator, and Caroline Feyaerts, Office General Manager and Liaison to the Medical Committee, to follow up on specific issues with ISFs and discuss anti-doping preparations with NADOs of future Universiade host countries.

Further to the adoption of the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code at the 2013 World Conference on Doping in Sport last November, WADA wished to emphasise the importance of the next steps related to its implementation process. Indeed, all signatories of the Code were strongly encouraged to start adjusting and incorporating the provisions of the revised Code which will come into force on 1 January 2015. This will be an important item on the agenda of the next FISU Medical Committee meeting planned next month on 24 and 25 April.

Detailed information was given on the key changes that the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code would bring to the anti-doping community. The main Code amendments include: establishing longer periods of ineligibility for cheaters and more flexibility in other specific sanctions, focussing on principles of proportionality and human rights; resorting to intelligence and investigations for target testing; involving entourage/athlete support personnel, conducting smart test distribution planning, smart menus for sample analysis, and smart sample storage and emphasising on educational programmes.

 

Frédéric Donzé, WADA European Office & International Federation Relations, Dr. Thomas Crisp, FISU Medical Committee Member & Anti-Doping Coordinator, Sir Craig Reedie, WADA President

 

Other topics under the revised Code were covered and discussed during the two-day symposium such as the development of a technical document for sport specific analysis and risk factor, the impacts of the Athlete Biological Passport’s (ABP) steroidal module, educational prevention programmes and new WADA e-learning tool for athletes. 

One of the great moments of the event was the interview of Beckie Scott, Chair of the WADA Athlete Committee. Her personal story as a former Olympic Cross Country Skiing medallist “from bronze to gold” and her strong engagement in the fight against doping revealed to be very inspiring to all the participants. Let us hope that the 2015 WADA Code will offer more protection to those clean athletes and implement more fairness in the sport environment as expected.

During one of the case studies for the break-out sessions, Dr. Thomas Crisp reported on the factors that his group considered important if the anti-doping budget of an organisation was to be increased (testing, quality of testing, education, staff training).

The event terminated on a very successful note and the dates of the 11th WADA Symposium were already announced. The FISU representatives believed this meeting was very fruitful and will not fail to attend the next edition foreseen on 24 and 25 March 2015.

 

(Source: Caroline Feyaerts, Office General Manager and Liaison to the Medical Committee)