IWF oversees anti-doping education seminars in suspended Member Federations
Baku, February 19, AZERTAC
The latest anti-doping education seminar has concluded in Azerbaijan as the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) continues to oversee anti-doping education seminars in its nine suspended Member Federations (MFs) and support them bring about cultural change.
MFs must organise anti-doping seminars at least every four months, as part of the IWF’s extensive series of criteria that they are obliged to fulfil. Since December 2017, anti-doping seminars have been held in Azerbaijan, Armenia, China, Kazakhstan, Moldova Turkey and Ukraine.
The purpose of the seminars is to educate athletes, coaches and officials on the dangers of doping and provide more information on IWF anti-doping policy, anti-doping rule violations, prohibited substances, ADAMs and whereabouts information, WADA and NADOs. Representatives from National Anti-Doping Agencies and medical experts make presentations to provide the very-latest information and scientific data. The seminars and their content is strictly overseen by the IWF and MFs must provide the IWF with detailed reports following the seminars. The IWF Monitoring Group, consisting of independent anti-doping experts, examines and evaluates all the presentations and reports of the MFs to ensure the seminars are effective as possible.
IWF President Tamas Ajan said: “Anti-doping education is vital in helping change cultures, particularly in high-risk countries where doping is more prevalent. We of course need to ensure we have robust anti-doping measures in place to protect clean athletes and catch athletes who cheat. But, it is equally important to have extensive education programmes in place to encourage cultural change and prevent the minority of athletes who cheat from cheating in the first place.
“When we suspended the nine MFs we sent out the strongest possible message about how committed we are to protecting clean athletes. We also made it clear that we would work with these countries to make real and lasting change and put in the necessary anti-doping measures to address their doping issues. These anti-doping seminars are effective way of doing that. But there is a lot more that needs to be done and a lot of criteria they need to fulfil before they can fulfil their obligation to ensure clean sport. The IWF, through the Monitoring Group, will continue to work with them to achieve this.”
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