UK Deaf Sport are supporting UK Anti-Doping’s third Clean Sport Week (20-26 May), which launches today. UK Deaf Sport is a Sport England-funded UK wide organisation, dedicated to getting every Deaf person active and inspired by sport and physical activity.
UK Anti-Doping is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-doping Code through implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy.
This year’s Clean Sport Week campaign, which will again have the support of a range of National Governing Bodies (NGBs), sports organisations and UK sports stars, will celebrate clean athletes and their success, and promote the work of the anti-doping community in the fight for clean sport.
The campaign will also have a strong focus on Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs), and particularly the attitudes towards, and motivations for use of, IPEDs in the gym environment. New research is set to be revealed during the week to encourage a wider public debate on the issue.
UK Deaf Sport firmly believes athletes have the right to compete in sport knowing they and their competitors are competing clean. As part of this, we are dedicated to ensuring all athletes and coaches representing Great Britain in the Deaflympics and other International tournaments understand their responsibilities and have access to information about Clean Sport. Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs not only corrupt the integrity of sport, but can have serious health consequences for athletes, and we want to ensure athletes can enjoy lifelong participation in sport.
More information about clean sport can be found here our anti-doping page, and both athletes and coaches can contact us at any time for advice or guidance.
Piers Martin, Executive Chair of UK Deaf Sport, said:
“Promoting clean sport in deaf sport is fundamental to UK Deaf Sport. We will continue to raise the level of awareness and debate around this topic and make sure our deaf athletes, volunteers and coaches are supported and educated in this area. We believe everyone has the right to have a positive experience competing and that they are also competing on a equal level alongside their peers.”
A number of events will take place between 20-26 May to help raise awareness of clean sport and anti-doping programmes led by UKAD, NGBs and sporting bodies across the UK. The campaign will also feature social media videos from a number of UK athletes showing their support for clean sport, through a series called ‘Feat of Strength’.
Nicole Sapstead, UKAD’s Chief Executive, said:
“This year’s Clean Sport Week focuses on Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs), particularly in the gym environment.
“Following a number of media reports in recent months, concerns are growing around the use of IPEDs in this area, particularly with trends like the ‘Love Island look’, and the possibility of this seeping into the sporting arena.
“Last year’s Clean Sport Week was a huge success and hope this year’s event can drive the debate around IPEDs, as well as celebrate the successes of clean athletes and the excellent work done by National Governing Bodies and sporting partners to keep sport clean.”
UK Anti-Doping’s functions include an education and information programme, athlete testing across more than 40 Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports, intelligence management and exclusive results management authority for the determination of anti-doping rule violations.
For more information on what UK Ant-Doping do, please visit UKAD website.
