On 2 and 3 October, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), in partnership with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) welcomed experts from the anti-doping industry to a values-based education conference in Ottawa, Canada aimed at improving global anti-doping education initiatives.
Representatives from 61 National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), 18 International Federations (IFs), 4 Regional Anti-Doping Organizations (RADOs) and 17 researchers from 50 countries attended the event to examine how anti-doping organizations could advance initiatives on a global level by utilizing the collective knowledge of Anti-Doping Organizations and researchers worldwide. One hundred and fifty-one people from an additional 26 countries participated in the conference through its live streaming.
Day one of the conference involved examining research on the need for robust education programs and discussions on how to implement these programs effectively, with the second day focusing on how the anti-doping community could use the research to plan education strategies around the world.
"WADA and industry experts recognize that collaboration is paramount to the success of the clean sport campaign," stated Rob Koehler, WADA Senior Director, Education and NADO/RADO Relations. "The Conference was the ideal forum to discuss ways of addressing global issues, with local sensitivities, with the goal of implementing effective information and education programs. There is a clear message that all leaders must invest in values-based education to ensure that we have more effective research-based education going forward. Effective education has the power to prevent doping and, in so doing, effect positive change on society as a whole," he added.
"CCES is committed to the advancement of values-based education as a means to preventing doping in sport," said Paul Melia, CEO of the CCES. "This Conference provided an important opportunity to fundamentally shift our understanding of how to use sport values to prevent doping. In Canada, for example, we are fostering a social change approach that ensures the values of sport drive the experiences in sport from the time a child enters the sport system. We look forward to collaborating with our colleagues from around the world as we continue to advance new values-based educational initiatives," Melia added.
After examination, discussion and careful consideration of conference presentations and viewpoints, all participants committed to adopting the following key resolutions:
WADA, NADOs, RADOs and IFs must devote more financial and human resources to values-based anti-doping education programs.
Research must inform, guide and further enhance all education programs.
ADOs and researchers must continue to collaborate to further guide and enhance values-based education.
Effective values-based education and prevention programs must be implemented in order to significantly reduce doping in sport.
NADOs and RADOs must evaluate their anti-doping education programs and ensure that they reflect a values-based approach to enhance their effectiveness.
WADA must convene a follow-up conference before 2018 to examine the state of this important area of work and evaluate the progress of these resolutions.
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
