Strength is Never a Weakness: 2019

Saturday, 9 November 2019

World Anti - Doping Agency (WADA) World Conference on Doping in Sport 2019: Day 2 Review

Hi Everyone

I hope all is well

This is a review post of my time spent at the World Conference on Doping in Katowice, Poland 5-7th November.

Hope you find this useful

Enjoy!

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I journeyed to Poland for the 5th annual Doping conference hosted by the city of Katowice and organised by the WADA. This has always been a goal of mine to attend a conference or event such as this, due to my passion for anabolic steroids, body image, image drugs and doping in sport. Since my A - Levels, I have been taking courses and workshops relating to doping and anti doping to understand it more. Which has led me ultimately to my fascination with the use of performance enhancing drugs (not just within competitive sports).

For those that are interested, I have linked below related research papers and blog posts that you may find relevant to the content I will be discussing. These cover the areas of doping, anti - doping, body image, anabolic steroid use and other image and performance enhancing drug use;

Superheroes - IPED use within the UK, Social Media and Gym Cultures

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS) Users on AAS Use: Negative Effects, ‘Code of Silence’, and Implications for Forensic and Medical Professionals

Discussion on Hyperandrogenism and the IAAF

Are steroids becoming increasingly popular in the UK?

Now to get into the conference content, see image below;

Outline for the whole Conference Itinerary

Recap of Day 1 of World Doping Conference (Click Here)

Sessions for the Event are shown below;

Olympic Medal Reallocation Program

Many athletes have had medals stripped, some years after the Olympic Games, after anti-doping sample re - testing from past games uncovers positive tests. This session looks at this new program.

Goldie Sayers who came 4th in Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, discusses her thoughts on her experience getting her Bronze medal 11 years later. The original medallist had their samples re tested which came up positive. Goldie had her re allocation medal ceremony was at the 2012 Olympic Stadium during the Anniversary Games.

Adding to this was Anita Włodarczyk, 2 time Olympic Champion in 2012 and 2016. Again had her silver from London 2012 upgrade to gold this year (2019) after re testing of samples. Not only her upgrading to a gold, this meant the bronze athlete got to silver and 4th place got Bronze. Huge knock on effect.

Examples where athletes can have their medal reallocation ceremony;

Olympic Headquarters

Next Olympic Games

National Sporting Event (same as athletes sport)

Private event

Their nations Olympic Committee hosting an event

International Standard for Result Management (ISRM)

The ISRM is a new international standard which is being proposed to establish mandatory standards for minimal anti doing organisations (ADOs) must follow in respect to the results management and hearing processes of potential ADRV.

Key Points

Ross Wenzel stresses that this is a boring section (thanks mate for validating my choice to attend your session lol......)
Aims for ISRM - fair, efficient, timely and harmonised
Aim ISRM - realistic and achievable - balancing exercise in creating them
Minimal but mandatory obligations - focus on core requirements
Due processes rights clear. Sometimes written submissions sufficient
Often a panel of lawyers available to athletes if they can't afford them
Timely decisions rendered. Aim standardisation in terms of details of content awards

Panel information below;

International Standard for Education (ISE)

This session will give an overview of the main components of the new ISE, its impact on the World Anti - Doping program and more generally, its implications for the promotion of clean sport. it will also cover how WADA will support its implementation in cooperation with its stakeholders.
Guiding Principles

Education First
Majority of Athletes are clean
Positive Language and Messaging
Clarity on what is mandatory
Streamline efforts
Not one size fits all

Key Points

Education programmes must address 4 key points (1) Information, (2) Vaues Based Education, (3) Anti Doping Education and, (4) Awareness.
All education activities must be planned, implemented and evlauted
Partnerships with academics encouraged to support evaluation of education activites
Knowledge sharing on education activities encoruaged to minimise duplication and maximise effectiveness
Cooperation and Recognition steps, (1) Consult when planning education activities, (2) Agree on event based education roles and responsibilities (3) Share, education plans and finally (4) Acknowledge the education programs of others signatories

International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE)

The ISTUE is in place to ensure the process of granting TUEs is harmonized across sports and countries.

Was not at this session so could not comment as some sessions ran parallel with each other.

International Standard for Testing and Investigation (ISTI)

The ISTI establishes standards for the implementation of an intelligent and effective In and Out - of - Competition testing program. In addition, the ISTI also establishes standards for the efficient and effective gathering, assessment and use of anti - doping intelligence and the conduct of investigations into possible anti - doping rule violations.

Main Themes of this session

Sample collection equipment
Specific gravity
Athletes whereabouts
Sample collection process
Sample collection personal

Key Points

Susan Ahern - Barrister from Ireland is the Lead Drafter from this session and section to the ISTI
Long term storage of samples and further analysis by the IOC has resulted in over 140 adverse analytical findings with more than 50% are from athletes who had won at games! Great work.
Greater collaboration between IFs and NADOs to decide together which athletes organizations will be primarily responsible for putting in a whereabouts pool and who will be responsible for collecting whereabouts.
Article 5, 6, 7 had updates
Next Generation of ADAMS - Stuart Kemp, Principle ADAMs

New ADAMS dashboard system for monitoring and implementation of testing
New application - Athlete Central
Paperless Doping Control Application

Anti - Doping Charter of Athlete Rights

The goal of the Anti - Doping Charter of Athlete rights is to clearly articulate the rights that are important to athletes and to outline what they are and where they are, connecting athletes to the relevant articles of the World Anti Doping Code and International standards.

Key Points;

Wake of Russian scandal - athletes felt betrayed and not heard. Athletes rights had never before been articulated.

Single document for athletes to access the rights that exist for them in anti - doping. Based on broad stakeholder consultation. inclusive of all signatories.
Process took place between 2017 - 2019
Athletes Anti Doping Rights Act
Stressing importance of rifght to education
Sample collection rights - real concern for athletes. Big step forward to have these rights here in one place.
Received very well by all members and bodies at event

Athlete Charter being passed at the conference below;

https://twitter.com/BeckieScott4/status/1192369144601165824?s=20

International Standard for the Prohibited List

The International Standard for the list of Prohibited Substances and Methods is the most consulted of all the documents produced by WADA. it is reviewed revised and published annually. Its structure is complex as it aims at combining scientific and medical, educational and legal considerations to cover the needs of a broad variety of stakeholders.

I was not at this session so missed it

International Standard for Laboratories (ISL)

The ISL was one of WADA's first standards adopted in March 2003 in Copenhagen along with he first version of the World Anti Doping Code. Its implementation was effective as of 1st Jan 2004, just a few months before he summer games in Athens, Greece. Over time, the standard has evolved in response to changes in the Code, technical development in anti doping laboratories and science , as well as due to legal decisions.

I was not at this session so missed it

International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPI)

The ISPPI provides a set of mandatory rules and standards to ensure that appropriate and effective privacy protections are applied to personal information processed for anti - doping purposes, regardless of whether such protections are required by applicable laws. These protections are essential to maintaining the confidence and trust of athletes and other persons involved in organized sport who are required to furnish their personal information for anti doping purposes.

I was not at this session so missed it

International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS)

The purpsose of ISCCS, which came into effect on 1st April 2018, to ensure that strong, World Anti - Doping Code compliant anti - doping rules and programs are applied and enforced consistently and effectively across all sports and countries. The ISCCS outlines in particualr the rights and responsibilties of Code Signatories; the ways WADA supprts signatoriees in achiveing, maintaining and , where applicable, regaining Code compliance; a priocess for determining non - compliance and consequances; as well as a range of gradedm predictable and proportionate bsanctions for cases of non - compliance.

I was at this session but it was mainly for the nations to state comments and issues they may have.

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Summary of Day 2 (or the TLDR version)

This is the short version if you didn't want the detail. My main takeaway points from the day;

Paperless ADAMS system

Athletes Rights Act being accepted

Education a key theme and tool for tackling Doping

Athlete medal re allocation program in full effect

Future Events and or Conferences

There are two notable events coming up in 2020. They are;

and

Other Sources

I have suggested two great Twitter accounts to follow if you want more information and uip to date doping and or anti - doping news. They are;

Dr Ian Boardley, his Twitter is @ mdsportex

SportsLawUK, their Twitter is @ sportslaw_uk

Thank you very much for reading my recap of Day 2 of the World Doping Conference here in Katowice!

Kind regards

Andrew

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Andrew Richardson, Founder of Strength is Never a Weakness Blog

I have a BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport Science and a Merit in my MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and I passed my PGCE at Teesside University.

Now I will be commencing my PhD into "Investigating Sedentary Lifestyles of the Tees Valley" this October 2019.

I am employed by Teesside University Sport and WellBeing Department as a PT/Fitness Instructor.

My long term goal is to become a Sport Science and/or Sport and Exercise Lecturer. I am also keen to contribute to academia via continued research in a quest for new knowledge.

My most recent publications:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1752928X19300216

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1752928X19301076

My passion is for Sport Science which has led to additional interests incorporating Sports Psychology, Body Dysmorphia, AAS, Doping and Strength and Conditioning.

Within these respective fields, I have a passion for Strength Training, Fitness Testing, Periodisation and Tapering.

I write for numerous websites across the UK and Ireland including my own blog Strength is Never a Weakness.

I had my own business for providing training plans for teams and athletes.

I was one of the Irish National Coaches for Powerlifting, and have attained two 3rd places at the first World University Championships,

in Belarus in July 2016.Feel free to email me or call me as I am always looking for the next challenge.

Contact details below;

Facebook: Andrew Richardson (search for)

Facebook Page: @StrengthisNeveraWeakness

Twitter: @arichie17

Instagram: @arichiepowerlifting

Snapchat: @andypowerlifter

Email: a.s.richardson@tees.ac.uk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-richardson-b0039278

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew_Richardson7

Tuesday, 5 November 2019

World Anti - Doping Agency (WADA) World Conference on Doping in Sport 2019: Day 1 Review

Hi Everyone

I hope all is well

This is a review post of my time spent at the World Conference on Doping in Katowice, Poland 5-7th November.

Hope you find this useful

Enjoy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Superheroes - IPED use within the UK, Social Media and Gym Cultures

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS) Users on AAS Use: Negative Effects, ‘Code of Silence’, and Implications for Forensic and Medical Professionals

Discussion on Hyperandrogenism and the IAAF

Are steroids becoming increasingly popular in the UK?

Now to get into the conference content, see image below;

Outline for the whole Conference Itinerary