Brussels, 10/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 May, ministers under the chairmanship of Danish Minister Uffe Elbaek, and with the participation, notably, of Sports Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, focused on the issue of doping in recreational sport. A public debate was held on the challenges to be faced when it comes to combating doping, not only for professional but also for recreational sport, before adopting conclusions on combating doping in recreational sport in particular. At midday, ministers held a working lunch on the matter with representatives from the sporting world. Although people's views differ regarding the action to be taken, all stakeholders have acknowledged that it is urgent to combat doping in order to defend the ethical values of sport, Elbaek said.
The fight against doping in professional sport has been recognised as essential for many years, and the work of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has already made it possible to set out the urgent measures to be taken, but combating doping in recreational sport is not yet widespread despite the public health hazards that this can cause. Delegations highlighted the fact that there is increasing awareness that this phenomenon exists in amateur sport, especially in fitness and body-building centres. Currently, there is insufficient data on the magnitude of this problem in sports centres. Reliable statistics would allow a better assessment of the situation. Furthermore, there is also the problem of individual freedom. Although it is normal to establish rules and a code of conduct for professionals, amateur sport cannot be governed in the same way.
Member states have highlighted the need for best practices to be exchanged and for cooperation to be stepped up between the European Union, the Council of Europe and all institutions concerned. Young people must be educated in healthy sporting practices and schools must be a place where they can receive information on the matter. Pointing out the non-binding nature of European Union decisions on sport, Commissioner Vassiliou trusts that Erasmus for All, the new programme that will group current educational programmes but also sports programmes (the Council is to discuss this on Friday 11 May), will rally stakeholders to the problem of doping, through education, and in cooperation with all those concerned (experts, the young and athletes, in particular).
Conclusions adopted in the wake of discussions give a summary of the points debated. The Council above all calls for: (1) development of educational programmes, information campaigns and other preventive measures to combat doping in recreational sport; (2) close cooperation between the public authorities, the sports movement and the fitness sector through common development of projects, guidelines and regulations; and (3) appropriate and effective measures at national level in order to carry out investigations and apply sanctions called for due to the production, trafficking, distribution and possession of doping products in recreational sport.
The Council proposes, moreover, that the mandate of the expert group should be enlarged on the fight against doping so that it covers the fight against doping in recreational sport. Work by the group should relate to prevention, education and the exchange of best practice. Uffe Elbaek concluded by saying that doping continues to evolve with new methods and new substances and that it threatens sport as a whole. (IL/transl.jl)