10 Jul 2017
Government review prompts UKAD to highlight its effectiveness
BY Matthew Campelli
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has published a report to highlight its “extensive work” after the government launched a review into its effectiveness and governance.
Research compiled alongside ComRes revealed that almost half of British adults (48 per cent) think that doping is widespread in sport following a number of high profile cases and accusations.
However, UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead said that while it was “worrying” that people were losing trust in the integrity of sport, she suggested that people “believed that doping is more widespread than it actually is”.
As a result, the organisation has launched National Clean Sport Week (10-17 July) to “highlight the facts” and “the work we’re doing to keep sport clean in the UK”.
UKAD is under pressure to prove its effectiveness as the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) calls for evidence and prepares to scrutinise it.
In recent months, the body has found itself at centre of the controversy surrounding British Cycling and Team Sky relating to the ‘mystery package’ sent to cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins during the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine.
Representatives of both organisations have insisted that the package contained the legal supplement Fluimucil, but Sapstead said that the body was “not able to confirm of refute” that claim despite 1,000 man hours going into the five-month investigation.
UKAD has an annual budget of £7m (US$9m, €7.9m) after receiving a 7 per cent increase at the end of 2015.
According to the research, 65 per cent of Brits think that doping is more widespread in countries other than Britain, while 60 per cent believe Britain has stricter rules, better education and better testing for elite athlete than other countries.
Since its inception in 2009, the organisation has conducted more than 58,000 tests over 50 sports, with 194 ending up with prosecution for violations.
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