DRUG FREE SPORT

COMMITTING TO DRUG FREE THROUGH 100% ME

By Allison Holloway, Drug-Free Sport Education Manager at UK Sport

British sportsmen and women are being given the opportunity to pledge their commitment to drug-free sport through a new cam- paign launched recently by UK Sport. ‘100% Me’, which already has the backing of some of the biggest names in British sport, seeks to “create a generation of sportsmen and women who know they don’t need to use prohibited substances or methods to be successful”.

And sports medicine professionals are able to play their part, both by pledging their commitment to the campaign directly, and through training to become accredited tutors and advisers to athletes.

As John Scott, Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport, the National Anti-Doping Organisation for the UK, explained, the cam- paign aims not only to ensure that sports people are fully aware of their responsibilities with regards to anti-doping by making time- ly and accurate information widely available, but also to create a positive identity for them as drug-free competitors. “The focus tra- ditionally is on the small minority of sportsmen and women who don’t abide by the rules,” he said. “Through ‘100% Me’ we want to switch the attention to those who choose to compete drug-free, and celebrate the success they achieve as drug-free athletes through sheer hard work, dedication and belief.”

The campaign already has the backing of some of the biggest www.sportex.net

names in British sport. The list of ambassadors committed to ‘100% Me’ includes the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Paula Radcliffe, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paul Sculthorpe and Chris Hoy. In total, 30 ambassadors have been signed up who, through their performances both in and out of the sporting arena, will serve as an inspiration to their peers and the next generation of sporting champions.

Scott said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to the campaign from British sport. The number, and quality, of ambas- sadors already signed up is testimony to the commitment there is to make sport clean and fair for all.”

The ‘100% Me’ campaign will be delivered through three routes:

OUTREACH ● The promotion of drug-free sport to athletes, support staff, juniors, parents and teachers through attendance at sports events, workshops, training sessions and schools across the UK

● Outreach zones will be found at major World, European, Commonwealth and national sporting events held in the UK, covering both senior and junior competitions

● Outreach offers direct access to anti-doping experts, interactive ways of learning about anti-doping, and practical demonstra- tions of key anti-doping services.

ACCREDITATION ● The development of a network of trained and accredited tutors

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