play true 2003 - winter - eng final - world anti-doping … · cover story: the prohibited list ......

play trueISSUE 3 - 2003 AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY

POLICY INTO

PRACTICEWith the World Anti-DDoping Code now in effect, the guidelinesfor elite athletes have never been clearer. An in-ddepth look atWADA’s role in the recently published Prohibited List ofSubstances, with special emphasis on the new harmonizationof Therapeutic Use Exemptions

play trueAN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY

CONTACT:

THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY800 PLACE VICTORIA - SUITE 1700P.O. BOX 120MONTREAL, QCCANADA H4Z 1B7

TEL: +1.514.904.9232FAX: +1.514.904.8650

E-MAIL: [email protected]: www.wada-ama.org

PHOTOS APPEAR COURTESY OF:

STACY SPLETZER (WADA)IOC/OLYMPIC MUSEUM COLLECTIONSJEAN-PAUL MAEDERSPORTS FOTOGETTY IMAGESREUTERS

GRAPHIC DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION:

ANTHONY PHILBIN COMMUNICATIONS, MONTREALE-MAIL: [email protected]

All information published in this newsletter wascorrect at time of printing. The articles published in thisnewsletter, and the opinions expressed by the writersand featured athletes and experts do not necessarilyreflect the opinions of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

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Profile:David Howman

WADA Director GeneralDavid Howman has devotedyears to practicing sportslaw in his native NewZealand and internationally,and has been a familiar facein the anti-doping arena for years

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Cover Story:

The Prohibited List & Therapeutic Use Exemptions

The fight against doping in sport enters a new era on01 January 2004, with the advent of the first WorldAnti-Doping Code. While the Code has manyelements that will affect athletes worldwide, two ofthe most important fall under WADA's purview forthe first time: the Prohibited List of Substances; andthe process for obtaining Therapeutic Use Exemptions

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Athlete Profile: Sergey Bubka

For more than two decades, Sergey Bubkadominated the world of sport, often being referred toas the best sportsman in the world. He shares hisviews on what must be done in the fight againstdoping in sport

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contents

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UNESCO Convention Update

UNESCO's General Conference voted inOctober in favor of the creation of anInternational Convention against dopingin sport, through which governmentscan formally adopt the World Anti-Doping Code. An update on the progressnow being achieved

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WADA Outreach: Destination All Africa Games

Pictures and details from the AllAfrica Games last October, whichbrought together 6,000 athletesfrom 53 countries

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Olympic Museum Exhibit:Performance and Balance

A review of the intentions andhighlights of the new OlympicMuseum exhibit that focuses onthe relationship between sportand health, including displaysrelated to WADA and its mission

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Partner Profile:FINA

One of the strongest and most pioneeringproponents for doping-free competition,FINA continues to set the standard

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WADA UPDATES

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WADA Updates Pg

Code Update .............................15Regional Offices .......................15Funding Update........................15WADA-USADA Symposium ....15Journalist Symposium............15

Photo courtesy Jean-Paul Maeder and IOC/Olympic Museum Collections.

1 play true - issue 3 - 2003

Profile: David Howman

David Howman, WADA's new directorgeneral, has been involved with sportsand the fight against doping for severaldecades. An active athlete for the betterpart of his life (he was a member of theNew Zealand Junior Davis Cup squadand represented Victoria University inRugby), Howman has devoted years topracticing sports law in his native NewZealand and internationally. He hasbeen a familiar face in the anti-dopingarena for years and was instrumental indrafting the legislation for the NewZealand Anti-Doping Agency.

Howman began his service with WADAin 2000 as a member of theorganization's Foundation Boardrepresenting Oceania. He has alsoserved as chair of WADA's legalworking group and the head of theIndependent Observer Team at the2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

Howman joined WADA as its chiefoperating officer earlier this year, justprior to the acceptance of the WorldAnti-Doping Code in Copenhagen. Asthe Agency's new director general, hewill now have the responsibility ofoverseeing implementation of theCode beginning next year. As 2003draws to a close, Howman reflects onthe continuing fight to rid sports ofdoping and WADA's evolving role incoordinating that fight.

In your opinion, how has the fightagainst doping in sport changed sinceWADA's creation four years ago?

The fight against doping has radicallyaltered since WADA was establishedat the end of 1999. With thehallmarks of transparency andindependence in particular, WADAhas been able to provide leadershipand guidance in an area previouslydefined by disharmony andallegations of cover-ups or conflicts ofinterest. With the benefit of greatassistance from all stakeholders,including the sports movement andgovernments, and full consultationduring the process, the advent of theCode has meant progress of a speednot previously seen in either thesports movement or internationalgovernments. We are very hopefulthat this will continue and will createthe harmony sought in the on-coming years.

You have been involved in the fightagainst doping for a long time. Do youthink the recent rash of positivecases, especially involving previouslyundetectable products like THG,means there's more doping or thatauthorities are getting better atuncovering it?

The discovery of THG and othersubstances indicates a level ofcheating that we had not previouslythought could exist. On the one handit is extremely distressing anddisappointing to learn thatintentional doping of this kind exists,but on the other hand very pleasingthat it has been discovered throughthe use of an independent anti-doping agency in the United Statesand the allied resource coming froman accredited lab. Anecdotally theremust be suspicion that doping ismore deep-rooted than we hadhoped but the gap between those

Narrowing the Gap01

With recent discoveries related to the THG scandal in the US, andthe resulting implications that doping may be more systemic thanpreviously believed, new WADA Director General David Howmanhas taken on some serious challenges with his newresponsibilities, but believes that he, and WADA, are up to the task

"WADA is an exceptional, unique body inthe world at present. The mix of privateand public creates opportunities which arenot otherwise known in the world, andthese partnerships provide an opportunityto achieve aims at all levels. Private andpublic authorities, working together, canachieve so much more than when eitherworks alone."

Profile: David Howman

2play true - issue 3 - 2003

who cheat and those who catch thecheats is narrowing. Moreimportantly, it would appear that thesocietal approach towards doping insport is moving from silentcondemnation to a more vocaldisapproval. When that is linkedwith obvious health risks, andobvious improvements in valueemphasis, then we must be hopefulthat that gap will continue to narrow.

How does having bothgovernments and the sportsmovement working together helpin this fight?

WADA is an exceptional, unique bodyin the world at present. The mix ofprivate and public createsopportunities which are not otherwiseknown in the world, and thesepartnerships provide an opportunityto achieve aims at all levels. Privateand public authorities, workingtogether, can achieve so much morethan when either works alone.

What are WADA's top priorities for thecoming 12 months?

WADA's top priorities for the comingtwelve months are to ensure thatimplementation of the Code is carriedout harmoniously and consistently bythe sports movement; and to ensurethat the drive towards a globalconvention through the auspices ofUNESCO continues in a positivefashion. Our major activities mustnow be research and education asdirected by our executive committee.

WADA recently opened tworegional offices in Tokyo andCape Town. What is the aim ofthese offices?

The aim of the regional offices is toensure more global spread of both themessage that WADA is entrustedwith, and the ability to provideinformation and guidance to parts ofthe world not otherwise covered bythe Head Office so explicitly.

What visible changes will the publicsee with the introduction of the Codenext year?

The changes that the public will seewill necessarily include manyreferences to the Code itself and,when there are cases involving anti-doping violations, there will be moreand more highlighting of the task thatWADA has in monitoring cases,appealing them, etc. I wouldanticipate there to be some moreworld-wide interest in TUEs(therapeutic use exemptions) andquite probably in substances on theProhibited List.

What power of intervention will theCode give to WADA?

WADA has powers of intervention inensuring that TUEs are consistentlygranted because it has a power toreview all exemptions in all sports. Italso has the ability to appeal cases tothe Court of Arbitration for Sportwhere sanctions would appear to beout of line with the Code.

WADA has had difficulty collecting itsfinancial commitments fromstakeholders. How can the Agencymeet its goals without the properresources?

There are always difficulties inachieving goals without the full

resources required for such anobjective. However, WADA is notgoing to shirk from its responsibilitiesand will, with the full effort of its verycompetent staff, achieve objectiveswhich are practical and real. WADAwill rely very heavily upon assistancefrom all stakeholders and will worktogether with all stakeholders toachieve the aims and requirements.WADA sees its way in the future asbeing partnered considerably by allinvolved in the fight against doping in sport.

"…It would appear that the societalapproach towards doping in sport ismoving from silent condemnation to amore vocal disapproval. When that islinked with obvious health risks, andobvious improvements in value emphasis,then we must be hopeful that that gapwill continue to narrow."


Cover Story

The Prohibited List

The List is nothing new to athletes. Itwas first published in 1963 and hassubstantially evolved over thedecades. The International OlympicCommittee has been responsible formaintaining the List over the years,and WADA has, for the first time lastyear, made recommendations to theIOC on the content of the List.

WADA is now solely responsible forpreparation and publication of theList. According to the Code, "WADAshall, as often as necessary, and noless often than annually, publish theProhibited List as an internationalstandard." As required, the List for2004 was published by WADA on

September 30, 2003 and will go intoeffect as of January 1, 2004. Whilemost of the List is similar to thosepublished in the past, there are somenew elements athletes and theirentourages should be aware of.

As always, the 2004 Prohibited Listidentifies substances and methodsthat are banned either in-competitiononly or in-and out-of-competition.These substances include, but are notlimited to, stimulants (in competitiononly), anabolic agents, and maskingagents. Athletes should always beaware that a substance may not bedirectly named on the List, but maystill be banned because it falls intothe category based on similarities inproperties or structure. It is alsoimportant to note that for different

sports, the List may include somespecificities. International Federationscan propose additions to WADA andWADA may include additionalsubstances as doping for particularsports.

The List also contains ProhibitedMethods, such as blood doping;pharmacological, chemical orphysical manipulation of specimenscollected in doping control; and genedoping. Gene doping, the non-therapeutic use or manipulation ofgenes to enhance athleticperformance, was only added to theList in 2003. Although no evidencehas yet been uncovered that genedoping is today being practiced,scientists have already begun to studyand look for ways to detect this typeof doping method.

POLICY INTO

PRACTICEThe fight against doping in sport enters a new era on 01 January2004, with the advent of the first World Anti-Doping Code. Whilethe Code has many elements that will affect athletes worldwide,two of the most important fall under WADA's purview for thefirst time: the Prohibited List of Substances, and the process forobtaining Therapeutic Use Exemptions

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"Maintaining the List and educatingathletes about it are two of WADA'smost important tasks," said DavidHowman, the Agency's directorgeneral. "It is our job to make sure theList reflects the criteria defined underthe Code and that we work withinternational federations and anti-doping organizations to make sureathletes know exactly what they arenot allowed to take."

Criteria

What determines whether asubstance should be on theProhibited List? For many years, theonly criterion was whether prevailingscientific opinion considered theproduct performance enhancing. If aproduct was thought to artificiallybetter an athlete's performance, thenit was placed on the List.

Under the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code, other issues now needto be taken into consideration. Thefollowing criteria have to beconsidered when deciding if asubstance should go on the List:

• Is it performance enhancing?• Does it represent a risk to the

health of the athlete?• Is it against the spirit of sport?

If any two of the three above criteriaare met, then the substance shouldbe considered for inclusion on the List.

Changes to the List

Several times a year, a group ofscientists and experts in the field ofdoping meet as WADA's List Sub-Committee to look at what substancesand methods should be added to orsubtracted from the List. The Sub-Committee makes recommendationson the contents of the new List for thefollowing year to WADA's Health,Medical and Research Committee,who reviews the recommendationsand send them to WADA's ExecutiveCommittee. The Executive Committeedetermines the new List havingconsidered those recommendations.The List must always be published byOctober 1 of the year before it goes


and pseudoephedrine, were taken offthe List. Scientists on the ListCommittee and dozens of othersconsulted worldwide believed thatthese two substances did notcompletely meet two of the threecriteria needed for them to beincluded on the List.

The prevailing opinion of the ListCommittee regarding caffeine wasthat its presence in the body can varygreatly due to individual metabolismand that urinary levels do notnecessarily reflect caffeine intake andthe effect on performance. For thosereasons, the threshold at whichcaffeine was banned was called intoquestion. Pseudoephedrine was

Cover Story

The List prohibits, for the first time,glucocorticosteroids and cannabinoidsin competition for all sports, not justspecific ones

into effect. A three-month delay isnecessary to modify the rules of theinternational federations, the nationalanti-doping organizations, andcountries, and to provide adequatenotice for athletes and their supportpersonnel (coaches, doctors, etc.).

This year, some major changes wereintroduced to the List. Two productsthat have long been banned, caffeine

considered a very mild stimulant thatis widely used to treat colds and theCommittee felt athletes should not bepenalized for using a product to treatcold symptoms.

Substances may be withdrawn fromthe List, but others may be addedbased on new information available tothe experts. For example, the Listprohibits, for the first time, glucocorti-costeroids and cannabinoids incompetition for all sports, not justspecific ones.

Specified Substances

The List for 2004 contains for the firsttime a category of "specifiedsubstances". The World Anti-DopingCode (article 10.3) states that "theProhibited List may identify specifiedsubstances which are particularlysusceptible to unintentional anti-doping rule violations because of theirgeneral availability in medicinalproducts or which are less likely to besuccessfully abused as dopingagents." A doping violation involvingsuch substance may result in areduced sanction as noted in theCode provided that "…the athlete canestablish that the use of such aspecified substance was not intendedto enhance sport performance…"

The specified substances for 2004include, for example, cannabinoids,ephedrine, Beta Blockers andglucocorticosteroids.

Monitoring Program

Another major change to the List for2004 is the inclusion of a monitoringprogram for the first time. UnderArticle 4.5 of the Code, WADA istasked with creating a programthrough which it will monitor certainsubstances to see if they are possiblybeing misused or abused in sport.Accredited laboratories will provideWADA with reports on the presence ofthese substances in doping controlsamples collected in and out ofcompetition.

This year, caffeine andpseudoephedrine, along with phenyl-propanolamine were included on themonitoring program. The reasoning,


TUEs:PPrroocceedduurreess aanndd AAppppeeaallssThe procedure for obtaining a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)includes three distinct stages:

The first stage begins with an athlete's request for aTUE and the decision by the relevant authority togrant the request or not.

In the second stage, that decision can be reviewed,although it will not necessarily be changed.

The third stage, if necessary, would involve a finalappeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or toan independent national authority, depending onwhether the case involves a national or internationalathlete.

For international-level athletes, the international federation (IF) isresponsible for ensuring that the appropriate procedure forissuing a TUE is in place. In this case, IF can undertake this task orit can direct its national federations or anti-doping agencies to doso (In the case of TUEs, IF means any body to which the IF hasgranted authority for issuing the TUE). Once a TUE has been given,the IF will inform WADA, who will have the opportunity to reviewthis decision and, if it does not conform to the InternationalStandard for TUEs, reverse the original decision. In this case, theathlete or the IF can appeal to CAS for a final decision.

There exists also the possibility that the IF might refuse to granta TUE. In such a case, the athlete can appeal to WADA to havethe decision reversed. If WADA upholds the IF's decision not togrant the TUE, the athlete can then appeal to CAS for a finaldecision. If WADA overturns the IF's original position and grantsthe TUE, then the IF also has the possibility of appealing to CAS.

For national-level athletes, the procedure is similar, but it restswith the national organizations to grant or refuse the TUE. Also,the final appeal would not be made to CAS but to anindependent national review body. The decision taken by thisbody could then be appealed to CAS by WADA.

The procedures to applying for and granting of a TUE are set outin the International Standard for TUEs, published by WADA. Theprocedures followed by CAS in regards to TUEs will be guidedby the Code of sports-related arbitration, and will most probablybe in accordance with a simplified procedure. CAS is expectedto issue new rules shortly to govern these TUE matters.

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according to Olivier Rabin, WADA'sscience director, is that if the reportsfrom the laboratories indicate anyabuse of these substances, that willbe evaluated by the List Committeeand consideration will be given toreintroducing them back to theProhibited List.

Therapeutic Use Exemptions

The Code is meant to harmonize anti-doping rules across sports andcountries, and an important part ofthat is the harmonization of grantingtherapeutic use exemptions to athletes.

Athletes, like all others, may haveillnesses or conditions that requirethem to take particular medications.The substances they may be requiredto take may happen to fall under theProhibited List. However, by obtaininga therapeutic use exemption (TUE),they are able to take the neededmedicine with this proper authorizationfrom their international federation ornational anti-doping agency.

"An athlete with a particular medicalcondition should not be penalized fortaking a prohibited substance on theList for validated and approvedmedical reaons, if no other alternativeexists," said Rabin. "The TUE willavoid an athlete being declaredpositive when the substance isdetected in the samples. This is whythe TUE process is such an importantpart of an anti-doping program."

The process for granting a TUE hasvaried greatly across sports. Somefederations have had systems in placethrough which athletes could requestTUEs, while others did not. Under theCode, WADA has issued aninternational standard for the grantingof TUEs. The standard states that allinternational federations and nationalanti-doping organizations must nowhave a process in place whereathletes with documented medicalconditions can request a TUE.

International federations areresponsible for accepting applicationforms and granting TUEs tointernational level athletes and anyother athlete that is entered in aninternational event. National anti-doping organizations will beresponsible for granting TUEs to allathletes that do not fall under thejurisdiction of the federation but arestill a member of that country'sregistered testing pool.

WADA's role in the TUE process istwo-pronged: the agency reserves theright to monitor and review any TUEgranted by a federation or anti-dopingagency. In addition, athletes whorequested a TUE and were deniedcan appeal the decision to WADA. IfWADA determines that a denial of theTUE did not comply with theinternational standard, the agencycan reverse the decision.

How to apply for a TUE?

The process for an athlete to apply fora TUE is fairly simple. Each athletemust contact his or her internationalfederation or national anti-dopingorganization and ask for anapplication form for requesting a TUE.The form should be filled out by theathlete's physician and forwarded tothe international federation or nationalanti-doping organization. This requestwould be reviewed by a TherapeuticUse Exemption Committee (TUEC)and a decision would be made as towhether the TUE should be granted.The athlete will then receive anapproval form from the organization towhich it applied. TUEs are normallygranted for a specific period of timeand do expire. Athletes shouldremember that according to the

standards, the application for a TUEshould be submitted at least 21 daysbefore participating in an event.

The criteria for whether a TUE shouldbe granted or not are outlined in thestandard. A TUE should be given if:

• The athlete would experiencesignificant health problems withouttaking the prohibited substance ormethod.

• The therapeutic use of thesubstance would not producesignificant enhancement ofperformance.

• There is no reasonable therapeuticalternative to the use of theotherwise prohibited substance ormethod.

(For glucocorticosteroids and beta-2agonists, an abbreviated form andprocess for granting a TUE exists.)

Athletes concerned aboutconfidentiality should note that all theinformation contained in theirapplications for a TUE will be keptstrictly confidential. All members ofthe TUECs are required to signconfidentiality agreements and if theyrequire advice from other scientificexperts on a particular case, thename of the athlete will not be usedwhen circulating the applicationoutside the TUEC.

For more information on thesubstances on the Prohibited List orhow to apply for a TUE, checkWADA's website at www.wada-ama.org or contact your internationalfederation or national anti-dopingagency.

Cover Story

03

Born in Legansk (now part of theUkraine) in 1963 to an officer in themilitary and a medical assistant,Sergey Bubka enjoyed playing alltypes of sport as a child. Heeventually focused on pole vaultingbecause he saw an older friend whogrew up on the same street doing thesport. When that friend invited him totry the pole vault, he was able toexperience the sport for himself andhistory was in the making.

Bubka went on to participate in fourOlympic Games, winning gold in1988 in Seoul Korea. He was the firstathlete to overcome the 6-meterheight and he will always beremembered for his six consecutiveworld championships and theastonishing 35 times he broke theworld record.

Reflecting back, Bubka credits hislove for the game for all hissuccesses.

"I always had great passion,determination and love for sport," hesaid. "I constantly had aspirations tobe better and that is what kept mecompeting for so long."

Although no longer competing, Bubkahas hardly retired from the world ofsport. He always knew he wanted tostay involved even after hiscompetitive days ended. "I can hardlyimagine my life without sport," hesaid.

Today, Bubka continues hisinvolvement as the President of theSergey Bubka Sports Club in theUkraine. On the international scene,

he was recently elected by his peersto serve as the Chairman of the IOCAthletes' Commission, which isconsidered by some to be the mostimportant commission set up by theInternational Olympic Committee.

The IOC Athletes' Commission wasestablished to serve as a link betweenathletes and officials. Because of theCommission, athletes today have alink to individuals who are fully awareof their needs. The Athletes'Commission addresses these needsby staying involved in all aspects ofthe organizational process of theOlympic Games to ensure thatcompetition, training and livingconditions are the best they can be.

More importantly, one of the keyissues that both the Commission and

For more than two decades, Sergey Bubka dominated the worldof sport, often being referred to as the best sportsman in theworld. Today, two years after his retirement, he is still consideredone of the greatest pole vaulters of all time



LEADINGTHE WAY



Bubka remain steadfast on is theirview on the anti-doping issue andtheir desire to keep sport clean.

"I feel that our duty is to bring ourskills, enthusiasm and passion to theOlympic Movement, especially as agroup who cares about its future,"said Bubka. "One of our mostimportant duties is to support thefight against doping. We activelyparticipated in much of the workleading to the creation of WADA andstrongly supported the Code and theprinciple that universal policies areapplied to all sports and in allcountries."

"It is also important that all athletesare educated about the health andethical issues surrounding drugabuse," Bubka continued.

Bubka believes that the IOC Athletes'Commission can help give all athletesa bigger and more coordinated voicearound this issue, which can onlyhelp to take the message further.

"Athletes need to understand thatdoping is unhealthy and unethical,"he said. "It not only harms thefoundation of sport, but also theathlete's health and career. Today'ssport stars need to encourage future

athletes by setting a good example.Ultimately, every athlete needs to takeresponsibility for cleaning up sport".

When asked about the currenttroubles facing track and field withthe doping issue, Bubka is optimistic,saying, "The IAAF is one of theleading sport federations taking astrict stand on the war againstdoping. It undoubtedly is troublingwhen positive results happen withathletes, but I believe that with newways to fight doping being introducedand with the coordinated efforts byWADA, we will do our best to recoverand take steps to clean up sport. Wearen't going to give up."


Bubka has always embraced the spiritof sport with the belief that it issomething fantastic. His transitionfrom playing field to theadministrative field is offering him anew chapter to give back tosomething that for a lifetime has givenhim so much.

"My entire life has been devoted tosport; and with my passion,knowledge and experience it is anoccupation I hope I can continue formany years to come," Bubka saidwith a smile.

With Bubka leading the way, WADAhas an essential partnership with theathlete leaders of the world in thefight against doping.

"Today's sport starsneed to encouragefuture athletes bysetting a goodexample.

Ultimately, everyathlete needs totake responsibilityfor cleaning upsport."

04 10play true - issue 3 - 2003

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In the sports world, the InternationalSwimming Federation (FINA) has oftenbeen a pioneer and set an example inthe fight against doping in sport.

In 1993, FINA was one of the firstinternational federations to establishno-notice out-of-competition dopingcontrols and a database of suchcontrols. The federation also launcheda special investigation into positivedoping cases at the Asian Games in1994, increased the number of dopingcontrols, and convened an

Extraordinary Congress on doping, thefirst of its kind, in Rio de Janeiro.Measures adopted at this Congressincluded toughening of sanctions fordoping infractions and an automaticcontrol each time a world record wasbroken.

The following year, FINA adopted newdoping control rules, which includedthe automatic suspension of a nationalfederation in multiple cases of dopingby its members. A doping panel, withindependent juridical authority from

FINA, was established for the review ofall new doping cases.

In January 1998, following incidentsat the Australian Customs just prior tothe World Championships in Perth, aworking group under the direction ofProfessor Don Catlin was formed.Approximately 20 experts in all areasof doping gathered to presentrecommendations, which were lateradopted.

Partner Profile

F I N AAn overview of one of elite sport’s groundbreaking federations inthe fight against doping, with contemporary views from FINAExecutive Director, Cornel Marculescu

Star swimmer Susie O’Neill plays important roles on theWADA Foundation Board and IOC Athletes’ Commission.


Partner Profile

Since that time, another threeExtraordinary Congresses on dopinghave been organized by FINA. The firstwas in 1999 in Hong Kong, where aDoping Control Review Board wasestablished, with the responsibility ofexamining doping cases andrecommending appropriate measures.The second Congress was in Moscowin 2002, where it was decided toinclude in the federation's anti-dopingrules combined urine/blood tests forthe detection of erythropoietin,darbepoietin and related substances.Last July, the third Congress took placein Barcelona, where FINA brought itsconstitution and anti-dopingregulations in line with the WorldAnti-Doping Code.

Today, for the fight against doping,FINA calls on 14 volunteers on thedoping panel and the Doping ControlReview Board, in addition to two full-time employees at its headquarters inLausanne. The federation's ExecutiveDirector, Cornel Marculescu, is alsodeeply involved in the anti-dopingfight. Below, he discusses some ofFINA's initiatives in this area.

Swimming is considered by some tobe one of the endurance sports mostsusceptible to doping. Do you believethis opinion is justified?

Swimming is one of the most formativesports, in terms of physical and mentalwellbeing. That said, I think thatdoping can touch any sport at anylevel. Human nature has both a goodand a bad side. Every director, doctor,trainer or parent should therefore bevigilant and respect Play True values.

How does FINA fight doping?

This fight takes a lot of energy, time andmoney. These resources could withoutdoubt be better used in developing oursport, but the world being what it is, wecan't avoid preserving the ethic withoutwhich sport would not exist.

We spent 12,311 Swiss Francs on ouranti-doping program in 1992. Since2000, that figure has risen to morethan a million Swiss Francs a year. Thenumber of tests, in and out ofcompetition, has continued to rise. Weconducted 247 in competition and 7out-of-competition tests in 1993.These numbers rose to 584 and 965in 2002. We will pass 1,000 out-of-competition tests in 2003. The 600 to650 athletes tested during the year areamong a pool of about 1,500 to 1,600athletes on FINA's lists on the basis ofbest performances the year before orthe current year.

In addition, we continue to encourageour national federations to developeducation and outreach programs, andsome very important ones are now inplace. I would add that a number ofour federations themselves havenational anti-doping programs or arepart of programs organized by othernational entities, all of which reinforceour efforts in this fight.

How do your sanctions procedures work?

All cases are overseen by the DopingControl Review Board. This board thensends recommendations to FINA'sexecutive, which is composed of thepresident, the honorary secretary andthe honorary treasurer. The executivewill then decide whether to refer thecase to a doping panel or not.

It was to assure impartiality that FINAcreated in 1996 this doping panel,whose independence cannot becontested. It is composed of six judgesor magistrates (a president and fivemembers, each from a different continent).Every athlete has the right to be heard.Every decision can be appealed to theCourt of Arbitration for Sport.

FINA recently took the extraordinarystep, to conform to the World Anti-Doping Code, of reducing from fouryears to two years a sanction for afirst infraction of anti-ddoping rules.Was this a difficult decision to take?

In one sense yes, because on anumber of occasions delegations fromour national federations at previouscongresses have made it clear theirunanimity for maintaining a sanction of

IOC member Alexander Popov, also knownas the Russian Rocket, celebrating arecent victory

Swimmer Ian Thorpe shows off his WADA Passport at a WADA Outreach event


four years for the most serious cases.That said, FINA, as a member of thesports community and the OlympicMovement, must respect the decisionsmade democratically by the sportscommunity, such as the World Anti-Doping Code, which was unanimouslyapproved by the World Conference onDoping in Sport.

In addition, a number of our memberswish for the possibility that strongersanctions can be proposed in the future.

FINA was also one of the firstinternational federations to testpreviously tested samples from one ofits recent competitions ( the worldchampionships in Barcelona) for THG.Was this for you an easy decision?

Absolutely. FINA looked into all thescientific and practical elements of thisand asked all the necessary questions.We contacted the laboratory to know ifthe substance could be detected andthe method of analysis to be used andonce we have received all theinformation, there was nothingstopping us from testing the samples.

Certain swimmers, such as IanThorpe, say they are ready to submitto voluntary doping controls to showthat they are "clean." Can you imaginea day when additional tests will bedone on a voluntary basis?

Whether voluntary or not, our bestcompetitors are targeted early andtested as often as possible. Of course,we are convinced that more tests can

be done. But it seems to be that othermethods of fighting doping can also bedeveloped.

We should admit, for example, that thelegal authority of an internationalfederation such as ours is limited. Ourefforts have to be augmented in eachcountry by the efforts of all the othersport and political authorities who arealso part of this fight: ministries ofsport, education and health; ministriesin charge of police and customs;national Olympic committees; sportsconfederations; federations, and evenclubs and municipalities. Each countryshould be responsible for thecirculation of doping products in thatcountry and those who facilitate theirsale. In this area, much remains to bedone. But it must happen for thereputation of athletes and the survivalof sports at the top level.

Don't forget that cheating should notjust be punished at the international ornational level; the fight against dopingneeds to start at the club level. Weneed to think about cheating, aboutthis human behavior that we stillaccept too easily. In this sense, weneed to completely rethink oureducational methods.

More information on FINA can befound on their website at www.fina.org

FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu (right), speaking with FINA President and WADA Board memberMustapha Larfaoui at a recent FINA event

The process of acceptance andimplementation of the World Anti-Doping Code, the first document toharmonize rules regarding anti-dopingacross all sports and all countries, iswell underway. In addition to thenumber of sports organizations thathave accepted the Code (see page15), governments have now approvedthe creation of an InternationalConvention under the auspices ofUNESCO, the United NationsOrganization responsible foreducation, science and culture.Representatives of UNESCO member

countries voted unanimously for thecreation of the Convention at theorganization's General Conference inParis this past October.

Many governments cannot be legallybound by a non-governmentaldocument such as the Code. TheConvention will allow states to adoptthe Code as the basis for the fightagainst doping in sport and toformally recognize WADA.A group of experts, led by Jean-PierreBlais from the Canadian government,have been charged by UNESCO

Process for UNESCO Convention continuingUNESCO's General Conference voted in October in favor of the creation of an International Convention against doping in sport, through whichgovernments can formally adopt the World Anti-Doping Code. The Goal: acceptance and implementation of the Code by governments by Turin 2006.

Director General Koichiro Matsuura todraft the text of the Convention. Theprocess has already begun and draftversions will be circulated and discussedat upcoming meetings of UNESCOrepresentatives responsible for physicaleducation and sport.

The goal is to present the final text ofthe Convention at the UNESCOGeneral Conference in October 2005,which will allow world governmentstime to formally accept the Code andimplement it prior to the OlympicWinter Games in Turin in 2006.

Partner Profile

Special Update

05


The All Africa Games in Abuja,Nigeria, took place from the 4th to the18th of October. These games,organized every four years, areconsidered the major games of Africaand this year brought together 6,000athletes from 53 countries, the largestever number of participantscompeting in 22 sports. During thegames, a WADA Athlete Outreachteam was on hand to speak toathletes and answer their questionsregarding doping-free sport.

Participants were able to obtaininformation, including generalmaterial on WADA and doping, acopy of the WADA/InternationalOlympic Committee's List of BannedSubstances, an athlete's guide and acopy of the new World Anti-DopingCode, which will harmonizeregulations regarding doping acrossall sports and all countries. Athleteswere also asked to sign a largebanner that hung in the athlete villageas a pledge to doping-free sport.

"Africa, and by implication themajority of African athletes, in manyinstances have not been privy toadequate educational exposure on thesubject of doping. It is for this reasonthat we need to invest in theseathletes and regions, as to ensure thatno athlete is left behind," saidOutreach Team leader RodneySwigelaar. "Many athletes indicatedthat the program assisted them inunderstanding the role of WADA and,as such, demystified the notion thatWADA is a police force out to catchathletes."

The Outreach event was the first to beorganized by WADA's new regionaloffice based in South Africa.Swigelaar, who is the office's director,assembled the Outreach team entirelyfrom the African continent.

There is great enthusiasm amongstAfrican athletes to become part of theprocess and the solution and throughthis program and the recently openedregional office in South Africa, theirvoices will continue to be heard.

Athlete Outreach

Destination

All Africa Games

IOC Athlete Commission member and WADA Board member, RaniaElwani, spent time supporting WADA's activities and in doing so,helped to take our messages further.

Raymond Hack (left) and Rodney Swigelaar interacted with thousandsof athletes at the All Africa Games.

Athletes from all over Africa enjoyed getting to know WADA and its activities.

06

WADA Updates


Beginning November 13, the WorldAnti-Doping Agency began taking partin the Olympic Museum's temporaryexhibit entitled "Balance andPerformance" in LausanneSwitzerland.

This exhibit, based on three mainthemes (sporting activity, sportsmedicine and social framework), aimsto showcase health as a preciouscommodity that can be developedand must be nurtured. The message

is that sport is healthy if it is practicedaccording to the given rules. Theexhibit also aims to serve as amedium to better explain the work ofthe IOC Medical Commission, theWorld Anti-Doping Agency and theCAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).

One key aspect of the anti-dopingissue is the Play True message.Individuals that visit the exhibit willbe able to learn about WADA'sprograms, while also having the

opportunity to play an interactivecomputer game about anti-doping.

In just a few short years, the OlympicMuseum has become the secondmost visited museum in Switzerlandand has welcomed more than 2million visitors since its opening. TheBalance and Performance temporaryexhibition will run until 2 May 2004and is aimed less at elite athletes andmore toward visitors from all agegroups and all regions of the world.

The Balance and Performance exhibit focuses on issues related to health and sport, and helps to explain the work of WADA, the IOC Medical Commission, and the CAS.

IOC President Jacques Rogge providesinsights into health and sport at the

official launch of the new Olympic Museum exhibit.

Balance and PerformanceWADA mission and goals part of new Olympic Museum exhibit

07

All photos on this page copyright IOC / Olympic Museum Collections, Photo: Jean-Paul Maeder.

08Acceptance and implementation ofthe World Anti-Doping Codecontinues to move along at a rapidpace. As of 17 December, 120 sportsorganizations, including theInternational Olympic Committee, hadformally accepted the Code. Othershave promised to do so in the comingmonths at upcoming congresses ormeetings.

Sports organizations have until theOlympic Games in Athens next year toaccept and implement the Code. Thelist of organizations that have alreadyformally accepted the Code can befound on WADA's website atwww.wada-aama.org.

Topics discussed included theexamination of evidence required foranti-doping violations stemming fromthe lack of whereabouts information,and the "no-shows" at out-of-competition testing, as well as theprotocols set out in the InternationalStandard for testing.

A full report was prepared by WADA'sStandards and Harmonizationdepartment and sent to all participantsbefore being finalized. Thesymposium's conclusions will be usedin the preparation of a Model of BestPractice in the months to come.

WADA Updates

As of mid-November, WADA hadreceived only two-thirds of its budgetfor 2003. As a result, WADA'sFoundation Board decided at itsNovember 21 meeting to approvecertain amendments to the Agency'sstatutes. Governments will now havemore time to make payments, butwill face sanctions if they do notfulfill their financial obligations ontime. Beginning in 2004,stakeholders will have until June 30to pay their yearly dues to WADA.Beginning January 1, 2004, anygovernment that has not paid itsdues would be considered forsanctions, which will includeremoval of the country'srepresentatives from the FoundationBoard, the Working Committees andthe Executive Committee.

On November 1, WADA officiallyopened two regional offices in Tokyo,Japan, and Cape Town, South Africa.These bureaus will be responsible forthe Asian and Oceanic and Africanregions, respectively. WADA hasalready had a regional office inLausanne, Switzerland, since 1999.

Kazuhiro Hayashi and Rodney Swigelaarhave been named as the directors oftheir respective bureaus. Hayashi wasformerly counselor to the cabinet officeof the Japanese prime minister.Swigelaar previously served as theminister of sports' department advisoron doping issues in South Africa.

New Regional Offices inTokyo and Cape Town

WADA-USADA Symposiumexamines violations, protocolsCode

acceptancecontinues at rapid pace

New FundingSanctions Passedfor 2004


On October 27 and 28, WADA held asymposium in Colorado Springs onthe protocols for out-of-competitiontesting. The meeting, modeled afterthe Banbury Conference in March2002 on gene doping, was organizedby the United States Anti-DopingAgency (USADA) and sponsored bythe U.S. Olympic Committee.

Approximately 30 representativesfrom international federations,national anti-doping agencies,national Olympic committees,accredited laboratories and WADAparticipated in the symposium.

WADA’s newest Regional Directors: Kazuhiro Hayashi (left) of the new Regional Office in Tokyo; Rodney Swigelaar, Director of WADA’s new facilities in Cape Town.

Journalist Symposium to be heldWith the implementation of theWorld Anti-Doping Code, 2004 willrepresent an important year forWADA and the fight against dopingin sport. To better explain theAgency's responsibilities in thecoming year, WADA will host asymposium for journalists onJanuary 29, 2004, at the OlympicMuseum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

A number of WADA representatives,including President Richard W. Poundand Director General David Howmanwill make presentations on WADA'sactivities. Journalists interested inattending should contact FredericDonze, WADA's Media RelationsManager, at:

[email protected]

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