RESPONSE TO ADDITIONAL SELECT COMMITTEE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HET INQUIRY

  Following the evidence session on Human Enhancement Technologies in Sport on the 19 July, UK Sport and DCMS agreed to answer some additional questions posed by the Committee.

1.   What scope do you have for ensuring compliance of National Governing Sporting bodies with the UK Sport testing and/or education programmes?

Compliance with WADC

  To monitor National Governing Body (NGB) compliance UK Sport undertakes the following:

Anti-Doping Agreement

  Each NGB is required to sign the tripartite Anti-Doping Agreement between UK Sport, Home Country Sports Councils (HCSC) and the relevant NGB.

  All Sports must sign this Anti-Doping Agreement in order to be eligible for public funding. The Agreement stipulates that it is the responsibility of the sport to support the fight against doping in sport.

  In addition, the following important elements are included:

—  The NGB shall recognise UK Sport as the National Anti-Doping Organisation (as that term is used in the Code) for the United Kingdom and shall fully support the efforts of UK Sport and HCSC in the fight against doping in sport.

—  NGB shall adopt, bring into force and implement without material change, as part of its own antidoping rules the mandatory parts of the UK Sport Model Rules to ensure compliance with the WADC.

—  To demonstrate compliance with its obligations, all NGBs shall provide a complete copy of their NGB Anti-Doping Rules as updated from time to time.

—  Affirmative obligation to confirm periodically to UK Sport that they have met all of their obligations under the agreement, not only in adopting anti-doping rules but in implementing them.

Review and Confirmation of Compliance

  All anti-doping rules are then subject to a review by external legal advice if there are any material departures from the mandatory elements of the Code.

Annual compliance check

  On an annual basis at a minimum, or as and when updated, NGBs are asked to submit the most current anti-doping regulations to allow UK Sport to monitor compliance with the model rules and the Code.

Compliance with Education requirements

  Annually NGBs on the anti-doping programme are required to submit a registration form detailing their plans for education for the following year. This is reviewed by the Education team and monitored throughout the year. In November 2006 UK Sport will launch an online Education Model Guidelines to enable NGBs to develop their own detailed education strategy for anti-doping education.

2.   What formal and informal links do you have with additional stakeholders (eg the British Olympic Association, the British Paralympic Association, the English Institute of Sport and consultants such as "Coachwise"). How do you prevent duplication of effort, for example in education programmes? What efforts are made to share best practice between UK Sport and other stakeholders?

  UK Sport maintains many formal and informal relationships with partner sports organisations in the UK. We have outlined these below:

  British Olympic Association: "UK Sport and the BOA maintain a close working relationship based on the complementary objective for Olympic success. UK Sport delivers anti-doping education and information to members of the Olympic team on a quadrennial basis and the BOA fully cooperates with UK Sport's pre-Games testing programme to provide final team lists and location details of all training camps leading up to the Games.

  British Paralympic Association: As the British Paralympic Association receive core funding for their programme, they are required to sign both a funding agreement and the Anti-Doping Agreement as with NGBs. They therefore have a contractual relationship with UK Sport to comply with the mandatory elements of the Code. UK Sport delivers anti-doping education and information to members of the Paralympic team on a quadrennial basis and the BPA fully cooperates with UK Sport's pre-Games testing programme to provide final team lists and location details of all training camps leading up to the Games.

  English Institute of Sport: On 1 April 2006 UK Sport assumed full responsibility for all Olympic and Paralympic performance related support in England, from the identification of talent, right the way through to performing at the top level. The transfer of responsibilities from Sport England to UK Sport means that the work of the English Institute of Sport is now directed by UK Sport.

  All Home Country Sports Councils (Sport England/Sport Scotland/Sports Council for NI/Sports Council for Wales): All Home Country Sports Councils (HCSC) have adopted the UK National Anti-Doping Policy and recognise UK Sport as the National Anti-Doping Organisation and lead agency on anti-doping matters. UK Sport and the HCSC sign the tripartite Anti-Doping Agreement to confirm the joint commitment to anti-doping. As part of that commitment, HCSCs agree to:

—  Support UK Sport in its role as National Anti-Doping Organisation with primary responsibility for anti-doping matters in the United Kingdom.

—  Subject to continued compliance by NGB it is the responsibility of the HCSC through the A-D agreement to confirm that an NGB has satisfied all of the anti-doping requirements for eligibility to receive recognition.

  The UK Coordinating Group on Anti-Doping meet regularly to discuss anti-doping issues including: NGB Compliance, Testing Programmes, Education and Policy.

  Youth Sport Trust: Although our relationship is informal, we have very strong ties with the Youth Sport Trust and work closely with them on a number of initiatives, with particular attention to education. Some examples of this are:

—  Ongoing involvement in the delivery of anti-doping education to participants in the UK School Games through the 100% ME programme.

—  Education initiatives for youth athletes and school-age to achieve consistency in messages about positive lifestyles.

—  Sport Leaders and 2012 Ambassadors as potential 100% ME Ambassadors.

General partnerships

  In addition to these partnerships, the 100% ME Accreditation programme aims to ensure consistent and accurate messages are being delivered to athletes and support personnel through various programmes. Below are some examples of where we have trained and accredited over 225 tutors and 100 advisers to deliver the 100% ME message:

—  Practitioner Development Programme, UK Sport.

—  Elite Coach Programme, UK Sport.

—  EIS, SIS, WIS, NIIS and all HCSCs.

—  Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme mentors.

—  Rugby Football Union (all academies).

—  Rugby Football League (all Super League and National League clubs).

—  Representatives in over 35 sports across the UK.

—  DCMS.

—  Youth Sport Trust.

—  British Athlete Commission.

—  DARE UK.

3.   What steps do you take to compare the test results of UK athletes with those from other countries?

  At present, WADA provide data in their annual reports relating to the out of competition testing figures and adverse analytical findings from all anti-doping organisations. While we use this information to inform our information programme and to make general comparisons to help measure the effectiveness of our system, we do not make regular strategic comparisons. We will continue to rely on WADA for this information as they act as the clearing house for all test results. As the ADAMS database is implemented across countries, we do anticipate that this information will advance and provide some useful statistics for our doping control programme. You can download the WADA Annual Report for 2005 here:

  http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/2005_Annual_Report_En.pdf

4.   How much money has UK Sport/DCMS spent on research into human enhancement technologies? What levels of research funding can we expect to see from UK Sport in the future and what will such funding be used to support?

  From an anti-doping perspective, UK Sport does not have responsibility for funding research but instead hopes to enhance its role in influencing the research agenda more widely in this area. It is fundamental that anti-doping efforts are global in their approach due to the complexity of the anti-doping issue. UK Sport fully endorses the importance of international cooperation and we continue to fully support WADA in taking the lead and increasing its research budget.

  In our Performance team, we will be investing up to £1.5 million per year in sports science and sports technology research to support priority projects with our leading sports that can provide British athletes with a competitive advantage within the rules of sport. It should be noted that many of these will remain confidential so not to compromise knowledge gains that can be of value to British sport. Current discussions with research councils are premature although we have recently been working closely with EPSRC who have released a call for research in some particular areas of priority for us. See link below.

  http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/CallsForProposals/OlympicAchievingGoldWorkshopsCallForParticipants.htm

  Similarly DCMS does not have a budget for funding research but works, as mentioned above, to foster international cooperation in supporting WADA through mechanisms such as the UK's membership on the Council of Europe, and through ratification of the UNESCO Convention.

5.   How do you promote use of legal performance enhancing measures in sport?

  UK Sport values the contribution that sport can make to health, national pride and social development when fostered within a strong ethical environment. UK Sport also identifies integrity, fairness, equity and respect as values essential to success in sport. Fundamental to sport being enjoyed by all is sporting conduct and the way sport is played. As an organisation we are fully committed to playing our part in ensuring that standards are set for fair play and doping-free sport and then promoted through the provision of effective education and information.

  We understand the realities of high performance sport and will always explore new and innovative ways to train and compete within the rules of sport. Athletes will continue to push themselves to the very limit of their abilities and we aim to ensure that British athletes do this fairly and cleanly. As a result, this at times requires UK Sport to provide advice to athletes that will allow them to make informed choices. For example, our recent publication entitled "Sports Supplements and their Associated Risks" provides information that helps the sporting community better understand the risks associated with supplements use and to assist athletes in making informed choices about their dietary needs. While no guarantee is given about the safety of any supplement, the emphasis of this resource is to manage the risk and minimise the threat of committing a doping violation through taking a contaminated supplement. In addition to this responsibility to provide expert advice to athletes, UK Sport maintains that athletes should always seek guidance from a qualified medical professional before making any decisions about the use of medications or supplements.

6.   [In reference to Q98 on the session transcript] What type of information is routinely received from the WADA listing Committee? What other mechanisms exist for receiving information from WADA?

  We assume here that you mean the WADA Prohibited List Committee and have provided a response based on this assumption. Please contact me if you require more information.

  The issues discussed by the WADA Prohibited List Committee are not shared with key stakeholders and Signatories on a regular basis and the outcome of their considerations are evident in the draft of the Prohibited List that is circulated annually in July.

  We regularly consult with WADA's Scientific and Medical Directors on prohibited substances and methods, and often seek clarification from them about the status of substances and methods to which they satisfy our requirements in this respect.

  WADA produces an annual report that provides details of the work of the Agency, financial statements, testing statistics and general updates.

  UK Sport attends relevant international meetings hosted by WADA where information is shared about enhancing anti-doping efforts.

  John Scott, is a executive member of the Association of National Anti-Doping Organisations and receives information from WADA via this avenue regarding policy and the Code. Allison Holloway is the Chair of the Council of Europe Advisory Group on Education and liaises with WADA regarding Education matters on behalf of the member states of the Council of Europe.

  UK Sport is very much at the forefront of the international fight against doping in sport and we are in an excellent position to receive information and help influence policy and procedures.

  DCMS receives papers circulated to the WADA Foundation Board and Executive Committee members via European Public Authority representation on these boards. To illustrate, as the Danish Minister of Sports, Mr Brian Mikkelsen is the current WADA Vice-Chair, information is circulated to European governments via the Sports Department of the Danish Ministry for Sport.

7.   [In reference to Q102 on the session transcript] Please provide information on the UK Sport Research Group. When was this group established and who sits on it? What activities has this group undertaken? What does the research group hope to achieve in the future? Please also provide additional information on your general plans with respect to human enhancement technologies in sport.

  UK Sport plans to establish a Research Steering Group in 2006-07 with the purpose of identifying past, current and future anti-doping research in order to help the Drug-Free Sport Directorate establish an ongoing strategy for their contribution to anti-doping related research and development.

  In its first year, the RSG will aim to achieve the following objectives:

—  To complete an audit of all relevant research conducted globally in the past, currently being conducted and any known planned research in the area of doping in sport;

—  To identify the areas of social and scientific research in which UK Sport could make a valuable contribution; and

—  To establish areas of work for PhD and Masters students where it is believed they could make an important contribution to anti-doping related research and development.

  Members will be selected by UK Sport based on their experience in the field of research and their understanding or affiliation with anti-doping activities.

September 2006