IPC Steps Up Anti-Doping Testing Programme

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) conducted more doping controls than ever before last year and has warned athletes taking performance enhancing drugs that improved intelligence and a greater number of smart tests will give them no place to hide in the future.

New figures published today by the Paralympic Movement’s governing body have revealed that the IPC directed 863 urine and 106 blood tests on Paralympic athletes last year. This is an increase of 66 per cent on 2009 due to major events such as the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games and the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games.

In total seven athletes committed Anti-Doping Violations in 2010 and were sanctioned under the IPC’s Result Management Authority. Four were from IPC Powerlifting, two from IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport and one from Wheelchair Curling.

Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC’s Medical & Scientific Director, said: “In 2010 we not only increased the number of tests but also did more targeted testing on athletes which we believed were most at risk of Anti-Doping Rule Violations.

“This intelligence paid divided with us catching and dealing with more athletes who had committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations than ever before outside the Paralympic Games.

“It sends out a clear message to athletes that there is no hiding place and we hope the other Federations in the Paralympic Movement complement our efforts.

“Our intelligence is improving all the time and as a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) the IPC is committed to providing a doping free sporting environment.”

The IPC, together with the International Federations and the National Paralympic Committees, established the IPC Anti-Doping Code (January 2004) to prevent in the spirit of fair play, doping in sport for Paralympic athletes. The IPC Anti-Doping Code is in conformity with the general principles of the WADC.