Commission tackles issue of doping in sport
Raising awareness of the dangers of using performance enhancing drugs and banning strong alcohol and smoking in sports clubs are just some of the measures officials at the European Commission want to recommend to the Council of Ministers. Outlining the Commission's plans to prevent doping in sport to representatives from a number of distinguished sporting bodies (including the International and European Olympic committees, the European sports federations and national sports confederations), European Commissioner for Health and Consumer protection, Mr David Byrne said: 'It is not acceptable that the hugely positive role and image of sport is in danger. Doping is cheating. It is the opposite of everything that is good about sport. We run a huge risk if we don't tackle it decisively and quickly'. Doping in sport compromises its 'healthy' image and erodes public trust, the Commissioner warned, suggesting that if support and interest are replaced by suspicion and apathy, commercial sponsors will evaporate. 'My particular interest in the problem of doping is in relation to its impact in public health. Because for every Olympic standard athlete using drugs to enhance performance, there are literally thousands of amateurs. These drugs are more likely to be found in the locker room of the local gym than in the great sporting stadiums.' The Commissioner has now put together a preliminary proposal - yet to be formally adopted by the Commission - for a Council of Ministers recommendation on doping in amateur sport. Its main objectives will be for Member States to promote sport as a healthy lifestyle with awareness of its benefits, and the negative consequences of doping on health and ethics. To achieve this, the proposal will recommend Member States tutor trainers and coaches to develop preventative skills and include prevention of doping in health professionals' basic and continuous education. It will also call for sports clubs and federations, schools, universities and community health centres to develop prevention programmes. The proposal will also call on Member States to: - promote the active participation of amateur athletics through peer education and focus on the sports team; - inform parents about the risks of doping and encourage them to foster in their children the basic values of good health, fair play and team spirit; - mainstream doping prevention, when appropriate, in drug dependency prevention and health education programmes; - take appropriate measures to avoid over-training and too many competitions, which leave no time for rest and may lead to doping in order to maintain performance and; - encourage professional athletes to act as role models against doping in sport, especially for younger generations.' A number of studies would also be needed for the proposal, Commissioner Byrne indicated. These would include the preparation of a report on the distribution and prevalence of doping among amateur athletes and on the 'non-sport' use of doping substances in the Community as a whole. Another report, in collaboration with the European Agency for the evaluation of medicinal products would also be needed, he said. This would look at legislation on the supply of medicinal products in the Member States and to prepare policy proposals so as better to control access to doping substances. The Commission would also need to: - encourage research on the effectiveness and efficiency of the different strategies and programmes targeted to the prevention of doping among amateur athletes; - produce guidelines for the planning, implementation and evaluation of preventative programmes and strategies; - support and coordinate exchanges of preventative programmes and activities among health and sports professionals and centres in the Member States; - consider appropriate measure in relation to the availability of food supplements that may have a doping effect; - set up an experts group on the prevention of doping in amateur sport that will advise the Commission on the development and implementation under this recommendation; - review the matters in the recommendation, with a view to updating it and to prepare a report, within three years, taking into account the reports of the Member States and the latest scientific data and advice. In addition, said Mr Byrne, the proposal would address growing non-sport use of doping substances for 'cosmetic, body image or sexual purposes'. It would also take into account activities developed by other international bodies in the field, such as the Council of Europe, the World Health Organisation and the future World Anti-Doping Agency. Mr Byrne's comments on banning smoking and alcohol in sports clubs reflect the Commissioner's belief that sports clubs and federations have a role to play as 'health advocates'. Refraining from all tobacco advertising at sports events would send a clear message to society of a commitment to health, he argued. He called on the sports movement to consider ways of promoting an awareness and information campaigns to help keep sport free from both performance enhancing drugs and illegal narcotics and make sports premises healthier venues. 'In putting these ideas forward, I am fully aware that you need sponsorship to survive,' he said. 'But, as I pointed out earlier, the attraction of sport to sponsors and advertisers is closely linked with its positive image. If that positive image can be strengthened, then you will be in an even stronger position to attract new sponsors.' 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 thematic programmes for Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources, and Competitive and Sustainable Growth