| What the Experts Say...
Doping is a problem that concerns many in the sporting world. What can be done to
prevent it? Are rules and sanctions sufficient, or is a radical rethink needed? Some
experts in this field share their views.
"The Sydney Paralympic Games were yet another step forward
in the anti-doping program of the International Paralympic Committee. It was the first
time that we had used the anti-doping regulations which evolved after the Nagano
Paralympic Winter Games, at which time some changes in philosophy were introduced to
facilitate the process following a positive test.
The IPC Regulations are quite clear in that testing for drugs is
done for the protection of the health of all athletes, those who take them and those who
don’t, rather than to just prevent cheating.
...The Doping Disables initiative fits well into the philosophy
of the IPC Medical Code, stressing the harmful effects of drugs on athletes who take
them."
Dr. Michael Riding
IPC Medical Officer
"The 11 positive tests at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games
reflected the two major forms of doping—intentional doping or cheating, and
unintentional doping or inadvertently using a banned substance generally for medical
reasons.
...While there is no joy in having any athlete test positive, a
key benefit of conducting out-of-competition (OOC) testing is that if an athlete is
cheating (and the reduced list of substances screened for in OOC testing means that
inadvertent positive results are unlikely), then they can be removed from the competition
start list and their actions will not prevent a ‘clean’ athlete from winning a
medal, achieving a finals place etc.
...Strategies to deal effectively with the different forms of
doping will vary, as for intentional doping you need to either change the athlete’s
attitude to not want to cheat, or increase the likelihood of being caught so the athlete
does not want to take the risk. For unintentional doping we must improve the
athlete’s access and use of information about which substances are banned and which
are permitted.
The coming of age of athletes at the Paralympic Games must now be
matched with appropriate anti-doping strategies to ensure the Games remain a wonderful
event for all the participants."
Nicki Vance
Director, World Anti-Doping Agency
Previously Program Manager, Doping Control,
Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games |
