UK anti-doping authorities fall out over 2012 initiative
25/07/2007 |
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Britain's doping authorities became involved in a fierce row yesterday over measures to improve controls before the 2012 London Olympics.
A British Olympic Association announcement that it had established its own anti-doping commission sparked fierce criticism from UK Sport, the Government body which runs Britain's anti-doping programme.
The BOA initiative, in appointing a high-powered team which includes the International Olympic Committee member Sir Craig Reedie, former Olympic modern pentathlon champion Dr Steph Cook and Professor Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the IOC's medical commission, provoked an immediate response from John Steele, UK Sport's chief executive.
"We are in no way complacent," he said. "Against that we must be wary of constant investigation and review, in particular where there is no formal mandate for it. The last thing British sport needs, as we build up to Beijing 2008 and London 2012, is distraction, confusion about roles and duplication of effort. We all have significant roles to play - let's just get on with them."
The BOA commission has a mandate to make recommendations to "improve and strengthen" British anti-doping controls and to publish a report before next year's Games in Beijing. A BOA spokesman commented: "Clearly we are disappointed at the reaction, as we honestly believe the commission's work can play an important part in the fight against doping. Neither is it meant to imply any criticism of UK Sport, who work hard to ensure sport in this country is drug free."
The BOA also released a letter by Steele to its chief executive Simon Clegg from 16 March in which the UK Sport official wrote: "I am pleased to hear that the BOA is seeking to focus its energy on anti-doping. Your role in encouraging Olympic national governing bodies to achieve compliance is very valuable."
(Source: Independent.co.uk)
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