INTRODUCTION

  The Department is pleased to provide the Committee with an additional memorandum setting out developments in the fight against doping since the Government's formal response was published on 23 April 2007.

  This document aims to provide assurance to the Committee that Government and UK Sport are continuing to strengthen the UK's anti-doping policy and programme. In doing so, in the months since publication of the formal response, attention has been focused on two key areas: responding proactively to the World Anti-Doping Code review, and looking carefully at how DCMS and UK Sport can strengthen relationships with our enforcement agencies, primarily through the Home Office and HM Revenue and Customs.

  On the Code review, the UK's final submission was forwarded to WADA in July, which reflected some of the views proposed by the Committee. Further details on the Code review are provided in the memorandum below.

  This review will culminate with the World Conference on Doping in Sport in Madrid in November, an event which will mark a truly global and collaborative effort to improve the Code. Gerry Sutcliffe, appointed Minister for Sport in June, will attend this Conference, and intends to use it as an opportunity to signal the high priority we give to the fight against doping.

  In working to strengthen relationships with enforcement agencies, DCMS and UK Sport officials attended in May a meeting of the Technical Committee to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) where the current approach to the misuse of anabolic steroids was discussed. It is expected that officials will attend the next meeting of this Committee in October.

  Also, in July officials from DCMS and UK Sport attended a conference of the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Drugs Standing Committee, and gave a presentation on potential information sharing requirements between the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) and UK's enforcement agencies.

  Finally, a Ministers' meeting is scheduled for November, chaired by the Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker, to bring together various relevant agencies in considering the issue of trafficking of doping substances.

UPDATE ON RECOMMENDATIONS

  4.   We do not believe that it is in the best interest of the athlete for WADA to remove its accreditation from laboratories testing commercial supplements for use in sport. We recommend that the Minister for Sport maintain pressure on WADA to secure the continuing accreditation of laboratories which also test commercial supplements. In addition, we recommend UK Sport take the lead in working with relevant bodies to put in place a certification system for supplements used in sport to regulate against contamination of food supplements and provide assurance to athletes on the purity of what they are taking. (Paragraph 57)

Government Update

  Since publication of Government's response both DCMS and UK Sport have continued to push WADA on this matter.

  In his foreword to the UK's final Code review submission to WADA, in July 2007, Gerry Sutcliffe said that "We also have a duty of care to support athletes to make informed choices about the supplements they take, so I would urge WADA to reconsider its position in restricting WADA accredited laboratories from testing supplements".

  Further, in August, UK Sport provided WADA with comments on the proposed changes to the International Standard for Laboratories, which includes the restriction on WADA accredited laboratories testing commercial supplements. In this submission UK Sport reinforced its opposition to this restriction.

  UK Sport continues to explore the possibility of establishing a Supplements Risk Minimisation Scheme for sport in the UK. Several meetings have been held with the Supplements Working Group throughout 2006 and 2007 and a proposal for a Quality Assurance programme for supplements in sport is currently being drafted. Consultation with the supplements industry on the proposed programme took place at the end of September.

  5.   We recommend that UK Sport consult upon and review its education material aimed at general practitioners and other medics on the issues faced by athletes, providing further education if this is deemed necessary to clarify WADA prohibited substances and the routes via which such substances may be given. (Paragraph 58)

Government Update

  In its new Strategy for the Prevention of Doping in Sport, to be published in October, UK Sport will set out its commitment to building on the information and education provided to medical practitioners by:

—  Maintaining and expanding its Drug Information Database (DID^TM) at www.didglobal.com. This is used by medical practitioners around the world.

—  Information on the 100% ME website to support the application of the Therapeutic Use Exemption process, including provision of guidelines and memos relating to the use of specific treatments in order to assist medical practitioners in completing TUE applications accurately.

—  Hosting Medical Practitioner workshops at UK medical conferences. These workshops highlight the responsibilities of medical personnel when working with high performance athletes. In addition to the ongoing education provided to medical practitioners through UK Sport's Fast Track Practitioner programme and Bath University Sports Medicine Diploma, UK Sport plans to deliver a workshop at the British Association of Sports Exercise Medicine (BASEM) Conference in the spring of 2008.

—  Providing information on anti-doping specific medical news to UK wide GP journals and magazines. With the support of UK Sport, the British National Formulary (BNF) continues to provide information on drug-free sport to general medical practitioners. UK Sport will liaise with the BNF over the next year to identify opportunities to expand this information.

—  Providing 100% ME workshops and education material to athletes emphasising the need for them to inform their general medical practitioner and their pharmacist of the regulations they compete under. While UK Sport will endeavour to provide as much information to general medical practitioners as possible, athletes play a crucial role in making sure their GPs are aware of their requirements.

  6.   We urge DCMS and UK Sport to press WADA for clear reasoning to be given for each substance and method included on the Prohibited List and for its decisions in cases where substances and methods are examined but not banned. As a general rule, we should like to see increased attention paid by WADA to the science behind substances and methods considered for inclusion in the List. (Paragraph 63)

Government Update

  As with recommendation 4 above, both DCMS and UK Sport have raised this with WADA on a number of occasions.

  Each of UK Sport's submissions to WADA on the Code Review has included a foreword from the Minister for Sport, and each foreword has called for WADA to make the process for the inclusion, or otherwise, of substances on its Prohibited List more transparent. In the latest foreword, submitted to WADA in July, Gerry Sutcliffe stated, "... it is important that WADA maintains credibility in its annual consideration of the Prohibited List. To do this, it must be more transparent about how it comes to its decisions".

  UK Sport also continues to raise this issue with WADA as part of the consultation processes not only on the revisions to the Code, but as part of the annual review of the substances on the WADA Prohibited List.

  The Minister for Sport is due to meet with the current Chair of WADA, Richard Pound, on 30 October, and to attend the World Conference on Doping in Sport in Madrid from 15-17 November. He will reiterate his concerns regarding the proposed amendments at both of these meetings.

  10.   We recommend that UK Sport work with WADA to help further develop WADA's testing regime and increase the chance of catching athletes who are guilty of doping. (Paragraph 71)

Government Update

  As set out in the Government's response to the Committee's report, UK Sport has well established and strong links with WADA and other international partners, and has continued to develop these since the response was published in April.

  To illustrate, in May UK Sport attended and contributed to the inaugural Drug Control Officer (DCO) Seminar, held by WADA, to share best practice and improve the training of doping control staff. In the same month they delivered training to more DCOs in the Gulf States region, and trained Tutors in the region to deliver anti-doping education to athletes. Furthermore, UK Sport plans to conduct similar sessions with South Asia nations in November 2007.

  UK Sport officials have now attended three WADA ad hoc working group meetings, in March, June and August this year, on the re-drafting of the International Standard for Testing, with particular emphasis placed on out-of-competition testing and the submission of whereabouts information from athletes. It is universally acknowledged that out-of-competition testing is the most effective method of testing from both a detection and deterrence point of view. The draft Standard sets some clear mandatory provisions on this, closely based on the model developed by, and already in place in, the UK.

  11.   Whilst we accept that most testing is satisfactorily carried out through urine, we are of the view that increased research may be needed to determine the most appropriate testing route for different prohibited substances and we urge the Government to consider supporting studies of this nature. In the meantime, we urge UK Sport to increase its programme for testing blood samples since this may facilitate more detailed testing for prohibited substances, either in the present or future (Paragraph 72)

Government Update

  As set out in its formal response, Government welcomes the Committee's endorsement of an anti-doping programme which incorporates both urine and blood testing. As of May 2007, UK Sport has established and is implementing a blood test distribution plan for 2007-08 across a variety of sports. In carrying out this programme UK Sport will use the information gained through the Intelligence Testing programme to select appropriate times to test athletes.

  16.   We recommend that UK Sport work with schools to develop an effective mechanism for educating about the harm which doping in sport can cause. (Paragraph 82)

Government Update

  UK Sport's primary commitment to education and information is to athletes and athlete support personnel. That said, UK Sport recognises that schools play a fundamental role in shaping the attitudes and values of young people, many of which will go on to compete in sport at varying levels.In addition, UK Sport recognises that doping in sport is a technical issue and very few resources exist to support teachers in delivering education about this topic.

  For these reasons, UK Sport will outline, in its Strategy for the Prevention of Doping in Sport, the following commitment to schools:

—  To expand the relevant section on the 100% ME website, using the yet to be completed the WADA Schools Toolkit, to include a set of activity plans for lessons on drug-free sport.

—  To work co-operatively with LOCOG to promote anti-doping in schools ahead of London 2012.

—  To work co-operatively with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to identify opportunities for education to school age adolescents about the health and social consequences of the misuse of substances for improved performance or appearance, such as steroids, human growth hormone and stimulants.

  19.   We urge UK Sport to recommend to WADA that a minimum four year ban is applied in all incidences of proven doping. (Paragraph 92)

Government Update

  The current revised draft of the World Anti Doping Code allows for an athlete to receive a sanction of up to four years ineligibility if it is shown that there were aggravating circumstances involved in their anti-doping rule violation.

  The issue of sanctions will be discussed at the World Conference on Doping in Sport in Madrid.

  26.   We recommend that UK Sport and DCMS urgently consult on requirements for scale-up of testing facilities, personnel and protocol during the London 2012 Olympics and that Government funding for meeting such requirements be made available. This will clearly require close working with LOCOG and to facilitate this, we urge the Government to provide a clear statement on the responsibilities and remit of LOCOG and UK port regarding the London 2012 testing programme. (Paragraph 109)

Government Update

  On 14 June the former Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn, met with Debbie Jevans, LOCOG's Director of Sport, Richard Budgett, LOCOG's Chief Medical Officer, and a representative from UK Sport to discuss the planning required for anti-doping programmes in the run-up to, and during, the 2012 Games.

  At this meeting Debbie Jevans confirmed that LOCOG's Anti-Doping Manager would take up post in October 2007. It was agreed that once the manager was in post a further meeting would take place between DCMS, UK Sport and LOCOG. This meeting will be arranged in due course.

  29.   We recommend that mechanisms be put in place for informed liaison between UK Sport or any replacement anti-doping authority and HM Revenue and Customs to identify and monitor prohibited substances brought into the UK which may be intended for use during the 2012 Olympic Games. (Paragraph 112)

Government Update

  Prior to publication of the Government's response, on 16-17 April, UK Sport hosted the WADA Legal Symposium, the aim of which was to identify, and learn from, best practice around the world in the area of information sharing and co-operative working between public authorities, law enforcement agencies and Anti-Doping Organisations. This was attended by officials from DCMS and HM Revenue and Customs.

  Officials from DCMS have since met with colleagues from HM Revenue and Customs and the Home Office a number of times to explore options for establishing mechanisms for informed liaison between UK Sport and the UK's enforcement agencies. To illustrate, meetings have included DCMS and UK Sport staff presenting information sharing requirements to an Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Drugs Standing Committee in July.

  Additionally, following a telephone meeting in July between the Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, and the Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker, agreement was reached that the Home Office Minister would chair a meeting on trafficking of doping substances in November. It is expected that representatives from the Home Office, DCMS, HM Revenue and Customs, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), and UK Sport will be invited to attend.

  31.   We recommend that the Government review the quality of sports science research in the UK and implement mechanisms for enhancing training and support where required. (Paragraph 118)

Government Update

  Since April UK Sport has convened two meetings of the research and innovation advisory panel referred to in the formal response. The role of this panel is to drive forward specific areas of research pertinent to the needs of Olympic and Paralympic Sport, and is made up of a range of technical staff from some of GB's leading sports. At these meetings, which took place in June and September, the panel has agreed to focus, at this stage, on research related to training science and injury management.

  In June, UK Sport launched its programme to develop sports specific research opportunities, aimed primarily at sports scientists and medics working in the high performance system. This programme offers a range of annual awards to help take forward these ideas through the sports themselves, or in partnership with the commercial or University sectors. Since the launch, UK Sport has received a number of applications and ideas for projects for research in a range of areas, including equipment development, coaching technologies and the human sciences, such as injury management.

  In September, UK Sport launched the pilot of a competition for young scientists to help identify new initiatives for the elite sport system. This will involve students and staff at a select number of universities for the pilot year, businesses and industrial partners who have been identified due to their size and graduate programmes.

  34.   We urge UK Sport to develop formal mechanisms for the sharing of knowledge and information between the different sectors and to look at mechanisms for maximising the application of knowledge already in existence to the benefit of sport in the UK. Furthermore, we recommend that the UK Research Councils identify mechanisms for enhancing the sharing of information relevant to sports science between the different academic disciplines. (Paragraph 129)

Government Update

  UK Sport continues to work with various partners, in the University, research and commercial sectors, and bring their knowledge and expertise to benefit elite sport. Much of this work is ongoing, and formal partnerships are in development, supported in part through UK Sport's research and innovation advisory panel. The Committee will also want to be aware that in September, UK Sport presented to the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Conference to draw its attention to the opportunities to work in partnership with the Research Councils.

September 2007