International collaboration for research on doping in sport is vital, says new report
Cooperation and harmonisation in the fight against doping cannot succeed unless a central body - together with an associated reference laboratory - is created and made responsible at an international level for the fight against doping, according to a recently published report. In mid-November, Prince Alexandre de Merode, President of the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presented a report on 'Harmonisation of methods and measurements in the fight against doping' to the European Commissioner for Research, Mr Philippe Busquin, marking the beginning of a new age of cooperation between the international sports movement and the European Union in this field. The report is a result of the 'Hardop' research project launched in November 1998 as a partnership between the European Commission and the IOC's Medical Commission. Better methods for detecting the different types of doping practised by both amateurs and professionals is widely seen as crucial for the future of international competitive sports. As also is increased monitoring and cooperation between anti-doping laboratories and better training for all those involved in the struggle to prevent doping in sport. The European Group on Ethics, which has also now adopted an opinion on doping in sport, after the European Commission asked for its advice, clarified the issues at stake: 'The need to address [doping in sport] arises from a number of factors: - Doping in sport does not only threaten to damage sport as a social institution, it is detrimental to fundamental ethical values which are meant to be at the basis of modern sport, namely fair play and team spirit, or, more generally integrity and solidarity; - The protection of the health of the athlete is also of ethical concern, for it is endangered by the enormous pressure of the athlete to push toward even higher level of performance, in the context of sport as a global and commercial enterprise; - Doping in sport touches on medical ethics, as sports doctors today are called upon to help enhance sports performance by offering medical substances and specific methods for more than simply therapeutic reasons, and in a way which is not readily transparent; - The doping issue is critical in the case of young and consequently vulnerable sports people, who are involved in intensive training that can damage their health and create psychological dependence.' Mr Busquin himself stressed this point as he received the report, which underlines the necessity of research into doping because the credibility of the decisions taken and the sentences passed on cheats depends upon the reliability of detection systems and because modern doping techniques are constantly evolving and becoming more and more sophisticated. Detection methods have to be able to keep pace with developments, it says. The background to the report is complex, as the numerous sporting disciplines, international practices and lack of harmonised laws in the countries concerned had to be taken into account. The definition of doping might therefore even vary between countries and disciplines - even within the same sport. The report aims to identify the essential research needed to combat doping in sport. To enable every aspect to be tackled, the authors consulted a number of players, including representatives of sporting bodies, athletes, laboratory heads, and journalists. They organised three discussion forums and used targeted questionnaires to help them identify the research priorities for this area. A central organisation, they now say, should play a major part in the research - particularly as more sophisticated performance enhancers are constantly being developed. The interface between those specialist laboratories would be an accrediting organisation to be made responsible for proposing common rules (reference materials and certified substances, tests and quality checks, for example). 'It would also be an important factor in harmonising procedures and criteria, without which the checking of performance enhancers will continue to be a hit and miss affair', the authors warn. A central organisation would also help to boost the scientific and technological watchdog function, which, starting with basic research and cooperation with industry will help to minimise future doping in sport. Additionally, it would act as a link to the other circles involved in the doping problem, such as public authorities, the courts, police, and customs authorities and sporting federations, and it will foster cooperation among the various parties involved. It would also provide the driving force behind more intensive training for researchers (including doctors) and the dissemination of information (primarily through the media and education). The European Commission's interest in this field is reflected in its Fifth RTD Framework Programme, which promotes research of European public concern. Its priorities relate to the effects of doping on health, new ways of measuring performance enhancers, training and information, and the detection of fraud, These types of research are funded under the FP5 thematic programmes for Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources, and Competitive and Sustainable Growth. As he received the report from the IOC, Mr Busquin said: 'The report's message is quite clear: Scientific and technical research is now spearheading the fight against doping by athletes. The Union is calling for more research, for this to be coordinated between the sporting world and the public authorities, and for a harmonised legal framework to be provided'. 'European research projects supported by the Union could thus help spearhead the fight against not only doping in sport but the worrying situation of which it is merely a symptom', a spokesman from the Research Directorate-General said.