Dr. Alonso (left of screen) and President Diack (right of screen) with some of those attending the Anti-Doping Programme meeting with managers and athletes in Oslo (© Getty Images)
Oslo, NorwayThe IAAF AntiDoping Programme’s latest information initiative was put into practice for the first time today in the Norwegian capital on the morning following the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, the start of the IAAF Golden League 2007.
Helping the flow of information
The first of what will be a series of regular interactive meetings with athletes and managers was held in the Radisson SAS Hotel, Oslo, and was attended by a dozen or so interested parties.
IAAF President Lamine Diack gave the official welcome and emphasised the IAAF’s continued aggressive fight against doping in sport. He highlighted the importance of “keeping the athletes and their managers up-to-date on the structure, management, and implementation of the IAAF’s Anti-Doping programme in order to beat the cheats.”
Interactive seminars like the one held today will be staged around the one-day meeting circuit during each season. They are designed to augment the extensive promotion and publicity already given by the IAAF to its Anti-Doping Programme through its publications, website, and promotions such as those held at World Athletics Series competitions.
In thanking those attending the session President Diack also confirmed that the IAAF would look to schedule future meetings perhaps on the morning of competition days, so allowing as many athletes and managers as possible to attend.
Responsibilities
On hand to disseminate the IAAF’s strategy today was Dr. Juan Manuel Alonso, the Chairman of the IAAF Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, and Jane Boulter-Davies, the person responsible in the IAAF’s eleven strong Medical and Anti-Doping Department for managing the Athletes' “Whereabouts System”.
An overview of the department’s structure and of the testing programme was given with specific details about how and by whom tests are carried out, the operation of the Out of Competition Testing Programme, the Registered Testing Pool, and the Whereabouts System, around which the monitoring of the world’s elite athletes is based outside events. There was also time spent to explain the IAAF’s focus on Blood Testing.
The ramifications of a potential missed test situation which occurs if athletes fail to provide adequate Whereabouts information on request or are unable to be located according to the information which they have given was discussed in detail. Managers were reminded about the availability of the on-line system of updating their athletes’ Whereabouts, and of the central importance and the responsibility that Athletes and/or Managers have in informing the IAAF ahead of any changes to their notified schedule, even if in an emergency this is done by text.
Protecting athletes from the cheats
“In following the WADA code, the whole goal is to treat every athlete in the same way where ever they are located in the world…that every athlete should ideally face the same testing situation and procedure whether they are in a small village in Africa or a major city in Europe for example,” stated Boulter-Davies.
There was also the recognition that it is not always easy for athletes and managers while travelling during the main competition season to find the time to update information, and of the intrusion into an athletes’ private life that the obligations and commitments to the anti-doping programme entail.
“We understand that most athletes are clean and that by putting in a strict system to protect them from the cheats that this does in some way penalise those same clean athletes we are trying to protect by causing possible disruption to their lives,” confirmed Dr. Alonso.
“We want athletes to feel comfortable with the system and to help them but it is also a matter of all sides taking up their responsibilities…we are looking to protect athletes from cheats,” stated the Commission Chairman.
Ellen Van Langen, one of the managers present, commented, “Agreed, it is an education issue, an awareness problem with athletes. It is vital to make sure athletes know they have responsibilities too and that they must provide reliable information.”
Another management representative Eric Lilot, said that “the targeting of the testing was crucial….It is obvious to those on the circuit when something suspicious seems to be occurring…especially dramatically improved performances or strange travel or training schedules.”
In this respect Dr. Alonso confirmed that the IAAF is always keen to receive information or even suspicions so that these can be followed-up, as it is only with a fluid exchange of information between the clean athletes and the testers that the catching of offenders can be made more effective.
Chris Turner for the IAAF