Lausanne: On the opening night of the 10th edition of the IF (International Federation) Forum yesterday which focuses on “The Power of Sport to Drive World Health”, a report with the heading “International Federation Anti-Doping Processes and Expenditure Report”, which agrees in totality that the current anti-doping system is no longer “fit for purpose” nor appropriate for the increasing challenges of the future (this conclusion was arrived at due to the cases related to the suspension of the Russian National Anti-Doping Organisation (RUSADA) and the allegations related to the anti-doping laboratory at the winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014, combined with the sanctioning of athletes following re-tests of samples from the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games).
The Forum, which has some of the very prominent names and Federations involved had Francesco Ricci Bitti, ASOIF and SportAccord Convention President, who was joined by IOC President, Thomas Bach, SportAccord President Patrick Baumann and Member of the Lausanne Council and Director of Sport and Social Cohesion, Oscar Tosato.
Starting the proceedings with her keynote address at the opening session, Dr. Margo Mountjoy, Chair of ASOIF’s Medical and Scientific Consultative Group, presented the results of the 2016 anti-doping survey involving all 28 Summer Olympic International Federations. A report was tabled which based its results on the surveys conducted from February to May 2016 through an online questionnaire with three main objectives:
1. establish the anti-doping processes that individual IFs implement within their respective
sports;
2. quantify the financial resources devoted to the IF anti-doping efforts in 2015
(the first year of implementation of the revised WADA Code); and
3. establish best practises from IF experiences on how to better protect the clean athlete.
While the report agrees about the inadequacy of the present Anti-Doping measures, key findings include the increase in IF expenditure from $23.5M in 2009 to $27.68M in 2015 (17.8%). This has been so important for the International Federations that the 17 lowest-spending IFs increased their budget by 82%.
Also speaks the report that the testing continues to account for the majority of expenditure, with much greater use being made of intelligence testing by the International Federations compared to 2009. Key findings of this report also include, in the light of recent events, the number of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) processed by IFs has decreased by almost 80% between 2009 and 2015 due to changes in the WADA Prohibited List (specifically change concerning beta-2-agonists rules).
Speaking about the findings of the report and the research, ASOIF and SportAccord Convention President, Francesco Ricci Bitti said, “The findings provide a clear indication as to how much the Summer Olympic IFs spend globally on fulfilling their obligations under the WADA Code. We expect the research outcomes to deliver valuable information for the ongoing discussion concerning how to enhance the future fight against doping and the potential creation of an independent authority for testing. Our ultimate objective must be to protect athletes in the best way possible.”
He was optimistic about the results which he thought will drive the Anti-Doping movement of future. The survey is now being extended to International Olympic Winter Federations and International Federations recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Forum, as it progresses, will see ASOIF present the results of research into activities and priorities for its international member federations with respect to athlete health and safety to help their activities in this field.