Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) is proud to be part of a new UK wide collaboration to make anti-doping education a mandatory requirement of selection for a major multi-sport Games. The “Clean Games Policy”, facilitated by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), covers all athletes and athlete support personnel who will be part of any Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth Games team.
CGS joins the British Olympic Association (BOA), British Paralympic Association (BPA), Commonwealth Games England (CGE), Commonwealth Games Wales (CGW) and Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) in showing 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.
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.”
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.
The first Team Scotland athletes to come under the new policy will be those selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games taking place in the Bahamas in July 2017 and will undertake anti-doping education as part of their build up to the Games.