Dr Oliver Sindall participates in UKAD panel discussion for Clean Sport Week

I was invited by UKAD to participate in a Journey to the Podium panel, focusing on Para-athletes and the journey they experience in elite sport. The panel involved Emilie Moffat, Performance Sport Education Manager at UKAD, Diccon Edwards, Performance Director at British Wheelchair Basketball, and Ali Jawad, UKAD Athlete Commission Member and Paralympic Powerlifter.

As it was also Mental Health Awareness Week, the panel had a balance of both clean sport, what it means to be a Para-athlete, and all the mental health considerations that come with that. I joined the panel as UKSI Mental Health Lead, but also because I have been seconded to ParalympicsGB for Paris 2024.

It’s really important. It’s a passion piece for me within the day job, particularly having a disability myself. It’s important to have a voice in this space when you get the opportunity to support the cause and the Paralympic movement. It’s a space that needs ongoing support and publicity, and I believe the panel helped contribute to that.

As it was about the Journey to the Podium, we discussed the pressures of a Games approaching, what goes through an athlete’s mind and the physical and psychological preparation involved – we also discussed why someone might dope and the different reasons for it.

It was interesting to hear from Diccon about the pressures of working with Para-athletes, the team and the support they provide at British Wheelchair Basketball. Ali provided insight into thinking you have it all covered as an athlete, but then new challenges and considerations arise for you to work through.

Emilie spoke about UKAD’s new strategic ‘Athlete focused’ approach, highlighting that the tests aren’t being done ‘to you’, it’s being done with you to create clean sport and how athletes are very much part of the process.

My role was to promote taking time to understand the athletes, their mental health, what triggers them, and how to make a well-being plan when things are okay. Understanding athletes will help identify when someone might be reaching a point where shortcuts are being considered, which you can help prevent.

Clean Sport Week is important as we want people to naturally compete by showcasing their ability and what they have trained and worked hard for. The 2024 theme and strategic ‘Athlete focused’ shift from UKAD is important, recognising that athletes want clean sport and highlighting the role they play in it.

Changing the perception of anti-doping from another thing on the to-do list to athletes wanting to be part of the process, to be an athlete competing against clean athletes, was highlighted in this campaign – the emphasis on athletes being part of the process can make a big difference moving forward.