'Staying one step ahead of those who compete illegally is critical' Uni expert tells UKAD Research Forum

Tue 18 March, 2014
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THE University鈥檚 Director of Sport and Sports Enterprise, Professor John Brewer, gave a keynote speech to the inaugural UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Research Forum, hosted at the Putteridge Bury campus.

The Research Forum 鈥 the first of its kind organised by 鈥 brought together leading anti-doping researchers in the UK, from some 11 universities including Loughborough, Bath, Liverpool John Moores and Stirling, to share the research they have conducted and develop a baseline assessment of the current anti-doping research landscape.

Speaking to some 40 delegates, Professor Brewer, who is also a UKAD Board Member said: 鈥淐ontinued research is key in understanding how we can continue to work hard to prevent doping in sport. It is essential to determine what is safe to take and what products should be banned.

鈥淏anned substances are determined in three ways: the substance has the potential to enhance the individual鈥檚 performance; the substance presents an actual or potential health risk, or, the substance violates the spirit of sport. If a substance fails at least two of the three criteria, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will deem the product a banned substance.鈥

Professor Brewer also highlighted the impact that misuse of performance enhancing substances can have on professional sports personalities鈥 reputations, when given punishments for failing drugs tests or breaking other anti-doping rules.

Examples included Marion Jones, who became athletics鈥 golden girl at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games claiming five medals, three of them gold. Eight years later, Jones was sentenced to serve six months in jail for lying to investigators after admitting her golden achievements in Sydney were fuelled by steroid abuse.

Punishments need to be 鈥減unitive鈥 said Professor Brewer, but also insisted more action is required to 鈥渞ehabilitate鈥 sportsmen and women who resort to using performance enhancing substances, so they learn from their mistakes and can continue their sporting career once they end their ban.

To address this, from next year the new World Anti-Doping Code introduces tougher punishments for competitors who test positive for banned substances. This includes doubling the mandatory two-year ban from competition to four years.

Concluding, Professor Brewer said: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that the 台湾六合彩开奖记录 hosted the first UKAD Research Forum, bringing leading anti-doping researchers from across the UK to our Putteridge Bury campus.鈥

He added: 鈥淚t is so important that we use our research to keep one step ahead of those who choose to use banned substances to enhance their sporting performance. This event brought together the best researchers in the field to discuss current issues and identify key research topics for the future.

鈥淚t is vital we continue to recognise that athletes are at the heart of what UKAD does. We must do all we can to support them to compete clean.鈥

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