Department for Culture Media and Sport

drug free sport

DCMS and the Government are fully committed to stopping doping in sport.

 

Government policy actively supports the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), which sets the basis for the global fight against doping in sport.

The WADA code
The code is an international set of rules and guidelines, developed to protect sport from doping.  The Code aims to harmonise rules across all sports and countries, including:

  • Strict liability – an athlete is held responsible if a banned substance is found in their body, no matter how it got there
  • Standardisation of anti doping offences
  • A list of substances that are prohibited in competition and out of competition and in different sports
  • An Athlete's right to a fair hearing

The Code first came into force in 2004 and a revised code will come into force on 1 January 2009. 

International Standards
The Code works in conjunction with four International Standards aimed at bringing harmonisation among anti-doping organisations:

  • The list of Prohibited Substances and methods (updated annually)
  • International Standard for Testing,
  • International Standard for Laboratories,
  • International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions

Find out which drugs are prohibited by WADA and more about the Code and International Standards. 

Testing for drugs
UK Sport is responsible for the implementation of an effective drugs testing programme in the UK, across a large number of sports. 

UK Sport holds a register of Drug Control Officers (DCOs) who are appointed to collect samples from specific events, training sessions or individual athletes.

UK Sport’s Drug-Free Directorate trains, verifies and registers all DCOs who then work to set guidelines to ensure that a strict and high standard of sample collection is maintained.

The 2007/08 testing programme saw more than 7,500 tests carried out across almost 50 sports.  At least sixty per cent of tests are done out of competition and with no advance notice.  Details of the results can be found on UK Sport’s website.

Anti-doping education
UK Sport's education programme, 100%ME, provides information and support to athletes and their support personnel, so that they can perform to the best of their ability without the use of drugs. 

The programme promotes drug free sport through direct interaction with athletes, developing accredited anti-doping tutors and enlisting sportspeople as ambassadors for their sport.

 

Back to top