Practitioner knowledge vital in supporting clean athletes

Having the right knowledge as well as values is vital in the fight against doping, according to English Institute of Sport (EIS) Clean Sport Strategy Lead Mike Stow.

Operations Manager Stow, who is tasked with supporting over 250 EIS sport science and medicine practitioners to stay informed of the latest information and guidance, believes they play a key role in supporting clean sport.

“The EIS fully supports clean sport and our practitioners working with the athletes on the front line have a key role to play. Within the EIS every practitioner is required to be UK Anti-doping (UKAD) Advisor Certified and meet the requirement of the Clean Games Policy when supporting athletes at major competitions” he says.

“Having a focus on doing things the right way and ensuring we uphold the values of clean sport runs throughout our organisation. Practitioners having the required knowledge and understanding is so important not only in supporting athletes, but in protecting their own integrity  and that of the high performance system.”

This week (10-17 July) is the UK’s first National Clean Sport Week, aimed at highlighting the work being done to keep sport clean and Stow believes keeping up to date is part of every practitioner’s remit.

“We do not ask staff to become experts but it is so important they are informed, understand the guidance, know where they can signpost athletes and what to do in order to flag any concerns. The consequences of not doing so are so high for the athlete but also our staff” he says.

“The continual pursuit of clean sport is the responsibility of everyone in the high performance system and we work very closely alongside UKAD, the sports and our partners to champion the clean athletes and help rid our sports of those cheating.

“The knowledge and commitment we have within the EIS is very high. I am a member of the BASES Clean Sport expert group steering committee and we have a number of EIS Doctors on the UKAD Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Committee to name but a few contributions we continue to make to the clean sport movement  – we will continue using that to benefit the UK High Performance system as it is a clear responsibility we have.”

For more information on National Clean Sport Week visit ukad.org.uk or search the hashtag #CleanSportUK